Your Excellency,
His Excellency,
President Muhammadu Buhari
President, Commander-in-Chief
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Dear President Buhari,
I
hope this letter reaches you in good health. My name is Tarila Okah,
daughter of Mr. Charles Okah, who is currently remanded at Kuje Prison
and standing trial before Hon. Justice Gabriel Kolawole at the Federal
High Court in Abuja over the 2010 Independence Day bomb incident.
Mr.
President, I am writing this letter principally to draw your attention,
the entire people of Nigeria, and members of the international
community to what I perceive as injustice being wilfully and maliciously
meted to my father by the Nigerian state. Within the last 10 months,
disturbing media reports about his attempt to commit suicide at the
Federal High Court in Abuja on October 6, 2015 and his failing health
are sad reminders of the harsh reality of my father’s frustration with
the judicial system in Nigeria, which is notorious for elastic trials
that can drag on for years on end and wear out all parties. It is rather
unfortunate that several court dates in the course of my father’s trial
have been cancelled either because the presiding Trial Judge had a
conference to attend or for other reasons that brings disrepute to the
Nigerian justice system. For instance, the Prosecutor Dr. Alex Izinyon, a
Senior Advocate of Nigeria failed to attend one of the trials on a date
that had been agreed upon beforehand, instead choosing to attend his
child’s graduation ceremony abroad.
With
all due respect, Mr. President, no democratic Government anywhere in
the world, including Canada where I currently reside, would treat a
prisoner’s attempt at suicide as well as the prisoner’s failing health,
with disdain. Such a peculiar prisoner’s case ought to be concluded
speedily by the Judiciary. Alternatively, such a Prisoner of Conscience
as my father, should be granted bail. However, from all indications, the
Nigerian Government is clearly insensitive to his plight.
Your
Excellency, I have consulted with several Nigerian lawyers who have
sufficiently educated me that, pursuant to Section 162 of the new
Criminal Justice Administration Law in the country, my father is
entitled to bail; having spent more than 3 years in prison custody.
Nevertheless, Hon. Justice Gabriel Kolawole has on two previous
occasions overruled my father’s applications for bail. However, the pace
of the trial has still not been picked up. Meanwhile, Justice Kolawole
in 2011 easily granted bail to Senator Ali Ndume who was standing trial
for terrorism as an alleged sponsor of Boko Haram. Today, after being
re-elected on the platform of your party, the All Progressives Congress
(APC), Senator Ndume is the Majority Leader of Nigeria’s upper
legislative chamber, the Senate, while my father (who is equally as
important to society) is still languishing in prison as an inmate
awaiting trial; almost 6 years after he was first arrested on October
16, 2010 on suspicion of being “JOMO GBOMO,” the spokesman for the
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). Interestingly,
Nigerian media perception about my father’s culpability in the
Independence Day bomb incident keeps changing. At first, he was accused
of being the spokesperson of MEND. Later, he was described as an
accomplice to the alleged crime; after the media and the Nigerian
Government realised that ‘Jomo Gbomo’ was still releasing statements on
behalf of MEND, even as my father was firmly held in custody! Now he is
accused of being the mastermind.
Thus
far, the prosecution has relied heavily on ‘witnesses’, all of whom
have contradicted their statements under cross examination. In a recent
court sitting, a witness from the Department of State Security (DSS) who
introduced himself as a ‘Crime Scene Investigator’ admitted that, “no
evidence was collected at the crime scene”. While another witness who
supposedly ‘sold’ a Mazda car to the 2nd Defendant, admitted under
cross-examination that, the very first time he set his eyes on the said
Mazda car (Exhibit 2) was “at the premises of the DSS Abuja
Headquarters.”
Without
prejudice to his ongoing trial before Hon. Justice Gabriel Kolawole, I
honestly believe that my father is innocent of the crimes alleged
against him. Over the 6 year period of his incarceration and trial, his
businesses which employed many Nigerians have collapsed; his family is
in disarray. Years apart, especially under such circumstances, often
dissolves the emotional bonds between a husband and his wife, and for my
much younger siblings who have now spent more time without their
father, there are virtually no emotional bonds to be dissolved.
On
a more personal note, I will be getting married in a few weeks; albeit
without the privilege of having my beloved father walk me down the aisle
– the dream of every daughter. I feel an admixture of joy and pain as
this day approaches knowing that my father is alive but held somewhere
unjustly. Clearly, my siblings and I are being punished vicariously by
the Nigerian state over crimes allegedly committed by our father which
have not been proven beyond reasonable doubt by a court of competent
jurisdiction. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, the mere act of filing even
trumped-up charges carries along with it a strong presumption of guilt,
which has led to my father’s conviction in the court of public opinion
and has also led to the abuse of his fundamental human rights. I know
that some Nigerians, on reading this open letter, will attack me for
daring to appeal for my father’s freedom. But my message to those
compatriots is simple: it is high time we focused on finding the real
perpetrators.
Finally,
Mr. President, in your determined quest to fight corruption in Nigeria,
I believe that the concept of corruption should be expanded beyond
financial crimes. We must also fight corruption in the system, and in
this case, the judicial system. We have witnessed the speedy handling of
cases involving high profile politicians, but a very sluggish process
for others. The joy of my upcoming marriage plus the pain of a missing
father (who is alive) equates to the simple plea:
#PLEASEFREECHARLESOKAH!
62 comments:
HMMMM
AUNTY LINDA....
*************************i will ju. sit back and read comments
I think your dad need serious God's intervention
Abeg Na who wan marry murderer pikin sef.....hehehehehe I laff in Spanish. For him to have Bn arrested as a suspect,I believe he must be largely or partly involved in d bombing. Advise to d groom and family - You all should watch ur back.
I'm sorry, I'm lazy at reading so I only glanced thru ur letter.
ImBECILE LETTER?
Who tell u that Nigeria law dey work or save person?
MY DEAR IF JONATHAN THE GOD SON DIDN'T HELP UR FLICKING DAD NO BE THE ALMAJIRI HITLER WILL HELP OO THE EARLY U UNDERSTAND THIS IS BETTER FOR U.
IF U ARE WRITING IT BECAUSE OF UR UPCOMING MARRIAGE MY DEAR UR FATHER WILL BE THERE TILL U HAVE UR LAST ISSUE SO STOP ALL THIS NONSENSE.
#sad indeed
ImBECILE LETTER?
Who tell u that Nigeria law dey work or save person?go ASK IBO NNAMDI MANU he will tell u.
MY DEAR IF JONATHAN THE GOD SON DIDN'T HELP UR FLICKING DAD NO BE THE ALMAJIRI HITLER WILL HELP OO THE EARLY U UNDERSTAND THIS IS BETTER FOR U.
IF U ARE WRITING IT BECAUSE OF UR UPCOMING MARRIAGE MY DEAR UR FATHER WILL BE THERE TILL U HAVE UR LAST ISSUE SO STOP ALL THIS NONSENSE.
#sad indeed
This lady should be ashamed and keep a low profile , after her father has killed many innocent souls and they have the guts to question our judicial system. They should know that no sinners will go unpunished, it's karma and nemesis
Deeep one there. The snail speed judiciary handles issues of grave importance like this have always annoyed the heck outta me. It's very worrisome that alot of people are sent to prison where they rot for years without a conclusive trial.
This Okah man deserves to know his fate by now. Haba!
What I like most is'fightig corruption should not base in financal aspect alone but should be extend to all areas.
my dear, i wish you a happy marriage
i know your father won't make it but he loves you and he is with you as you walk down the aisle. i can imagine his pain on that day as you walk down the aisle.
i don't believe the nigerian judiciary but I'm glad you spoke out
Actually it's non of my business...
Na me talk am!
Long Live Lib!!!
She try. Too long fa
...merited happiness
I pray o
Buhari: KAi wanna.. yariya i know Turanshi well well fa..
dont worry i will change His Prison to Kirirkiri kin ji ko?
i promise .... Change..and i will do that kin jiko?
Buhari: KAi wanna.. yariya i know Turanshi well well fa..
dont worry i will change His Prison to Kirirkiri kin ji ko?
i promise .... Change..and i will do that kin jiko?
My dear sister, I wish you would read my comment and take what I'm about to say into heart.
I share your pain, I'm not a woman so I probably won't understand how it's to be getting married and your father is not there, but I do know what it's like not having a father which is not your case as you have a father but incacerated for an allied crime for six years.
According to human rights definition and argument Nigeria has bleached his fundamental rights of free trial and should let him go.
The ugly truth, it will not happen so long as your father is not Hausa Fulani Yoruba oligarchy, this is crazy watch and see how Yoruba and Hausas would react to my comment, shamfuly your own so called Niger deltans or south south.
I have never heard in civilised world where you have south south anti geography term created to divide a region and it has susccessfuk done that not by ethnic group but by resources located along the region.
Your father is suffering because of the oil deposited in your region not the bombing, as matter of fact it's Agip and shell who is holding your father.
Hausa Fulani Hausa slave is the willing tools like the Yorubas to moderate the field slaves, the problem your father had is Yoruba judge being used to destroy your happiness.
Take heart get married and let your brothers man up and pick battle, stop going to court room I know this might sound harsh or uneducated but my friend I'm highly educated.
I have been through it all, if you brothers can pick up fight let them do it, if not your father is gone, it's a sad truth and if your brothers pick up fight it will be generation upon generation, you re fighting ideology fight, the main shareholder are multinationals not this wicked regime.
If they could leave boko haram senator this should confirm to you that they swore never to let justice rain. Stop crying and say a blessing for your father.
I once listen to Biafra activist speak about your father, I saw genuin reason his words hence I ask your brothers to embark on mission of rescue or forgot him.
I know I'm harsh but your father will not come out by crying or writing any of this people, so long as that oil is still there for your father, be thankful that his able to get you out of the polluted environment, now focus on raising people who would ideologically revenge this evil melted on your father, is not 10 years battle it's 50 years goal. Find them find their generation and revenge every second of it.
#Freecharlesokah
a.k.a EDWIN CHINEDU AZUBUKO said...
.
Sorry gal....
.
.
***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***
i feel the young woman's pain. Truth is, no one should be kept on trial this long. If there are genuine issues with this man, they should be put on the table and sorted accordingly. Stalling a trial in this manner naturally gives the impression that the Nigerian Government is not coming out straight. If he's guilty,present your facts and convict him! else, stop manipulating the process and making us all look like some animals. Stupid Government!
STUPID letter written by a "mumu" daughter of a suicide bomber,Okah. When former president GEJ who was soft didn't release him,is it PMB that will release ur father d heartless bomber?.Mehn,this girl shd be arrested for this irritating,disrespectful &unwarranted open letter to d president.. Bloody b***t!
Ur Papa go Tey for prison like monkey... anyone that does not want progress for this country will know no peace. You better remain for your Canada jeje orelse you sef go join ya Papa. You think u can bamboozoo us with Canada. You are even lucky u see husband marry u, we go bomb the wedding...so u will know how it feels.
Buhari: KAi wanna.. yariya i know Turanshi well well fa..
dont worry i will change His Prison to Kirirkiri kin ji ko?
i promise .... Change..and i will do that kin jiko?
Lolz
Charles Okah remains innocent until a competent court finds him quilty so please fellow Nigerians let's all rise and ask for justice without bias # pleasefreecharlsokah
Charles Okah remains innocent until a competent court finds him quilty so please fellow Nigerians let's all rise and ask for justice without bias # pleasefreecharlsokah
Oh dear
LWKM. Laugh at Nigeria's funniest pictures here
Mtecwwwwww
Hehehehe!
says, Genevieve.
Freeborn my boy u don dey make sense small small kip it up but don't skip on ur meds ok
Nne are you okiie. Linda take note!
Alright miss okah I am sorry but ur father might die in detention ur father is being held under d amended terrorist act.ur father and his brother are known Mend associates and affiliates. Mend is a terrorist group in clear terms ur dad is a terrorist.if I were u I woul avise u go getmarried and live happy after ur dad won't see d light of d day.ween dey warn dem not to get involved in such act dey don't hee.if u cannt do d time don't do d crime
This freeborn sef.lol
Where are all those PDP hypocrites? So Jonathan was also obstructing justice and refusing to bail someone that is entitled to bail too. If it is Buhari now, PDP wailers will start criticising and quoting law that states that the prisoner is entitled to bail especially that stupid Fayose. Bloody hypocrites!
Were you there amebo,how did you know that he was the mastermind of the said bomb attack?just be there judging people base on our nonexistence law enforcement agencies
Let's see how Mr President reacts to this
Eva Da Diva...
@Anonymous 10:49AM Is it not her fellow South-South brother in the name of Jonathan Goodluck that put her father in prison six years ago? So why are you now insulting yorubas and Hausas. Watin them do you na biko?
#heisentitledtoafreetrial #freecharlesokah
Anon u should have been bol enof to state ur name let's take it from there. No b quarrel na to argue facts an evidence on dis matter.
wow that'd be a tough request u know
-D great anonymous now as Vivian Reginalds
Freeborn words can't describe ur problem. You keep insulting Buhari cos of ur mumu Jonathan. You are meant to be praying to God to receive your blessings and rights from this govt. You aint shi and will remain frustrated till Buhari completes his mission. Better open ur eyes and reason or u download sense online instead of wasting your MB blabbing on here
Only if she was near the eagle square on Oct 1st 2010.,My wife and 1 was there and we saw first hand how people were mutilated and properties n cars damaged. You dare ask for your father upon the corpses of others relatives. Shamelessness is when you seek justice ontop corpses of victims you helped to slain. Shame to what your father and family stands for!
I feel her pain, your dad absent at your wedding isn't an easy one....
eeyah.. sorry
This MAN is Innocent It is his Brother in SA jail who was indicted they just roped him into it because of his brother> the truth will come out and wicked jona will pay
You are an idiot clearly
Guy is it dat u can't comprehend the Context of d letter or u ar jst hating cus she is more learned n courageous dan ur whole household can ever b?
All the judges in the house, maybe we should speak out for the man to be tried first before we sentence him to death. You say he killed people ya, what about the people you have killed with your words, deeds and action? Has God Almighty sentenced you to death without giving you a platform to ask him for forgiveness. He who is without sin should be the first to cast the stone.
pretty face u sound like ur dad missed ur wedding 2,he's luking down from heaven
Hmm how insensitive can most idiot Be..... his human right infringement is to be questioned, am not saying he is the culprit or not but until proven guilty, our country is so porous where the law r made and effected for the less privileged, let truth be spoken. let him be tried and if guilty be convicted as one, than allowing him to languish in jail....and some are busy calling the writer names, how insensitive
The man DAT wants to marry her must be a MEND member, I can't marry the daughter of terrorist....
I hope you know you are a fool. It's small minds like yours that us inhibiting progress in thus country. Smh
Na wa o. Did you plot the bombing with him to know that he was behind it. What a messed up country!
You don't have to hate her, you call her a bitch so what's your own sister or mother....bitch ass...or what. If its your own father in prison what would you say...if people insult your family for speaking out what would you say...Take a chill pill...From your comment you even sound like a Fraudster..
How does it affect you, with who wants to marry her, do you think everyone is as stupid as you or dumb ass like you...did she even tell you she wanted to marry a broke ass like you..that cant even get a three square meal or even afford buying a litre fuel...oga park well...
Freeborn are you God, just keep your mouth shut. If you have nothing positive to say just go and jump in the lagoon, you gone will make the world a better place..
How do you know he killed many people, you read comments on media and just conclude..if you have nothing to say..please just keep quiet
Its Well, my dear sister the good Lord will vindicate your father,Eaten a whole community funds is even more worse than, Yet these thief go free,becos some judges are corrupt
Anonymous 2:12, so by your logic, stealing is wise than killing innocent people? You are a bastard for that rubbish you spewed.
With a face like yours...you will definitely remain unmarried.
Jonathan that kept him in jail for 6 good years without trial has more deaf ears. Senseless comment
Thank God it wasnt in Buhari's regime that he was kept in jail. Everybody would have criticised Buhari. Please you people should also criticise Jonathan for keeping him in jail without trail and for going against the law.
Fuck that shit
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