One of the suspect accused of planning the double car-bombings in Abuja during nation’s the 50th anniversary, has died in prison while on trial for the alleged bombing.
The suspect’s lawyer, Festsus Keyamo revealed in a statement that the suspect, Tiemkenfa Francis Osvo, also known as General Gbokos, passed away in Kuje Prison, early Saturday morning.
Mr Osvwo had on 21st of February, 2012 collapsed during court proceedings, stalling the hearing for that day with his visibly deteriorating health condition.
His lawyer revealed in the statement that Osvo’s death came after repeated requests for medical care went unhindered to.
Want them dead
According to Mr Keyamo, government authorities wanted his clients dead, claiming that despite the order of the court that his client should be attended to by the prison authorities, after he collapsed, “no medication was administered on him.”
“It was obvious therefore that the authorities wanted him dead” he alleged.
Keyamo further explained that the sickness leading to the death of Osvwo started when “their cell was fumigated with a strange substance on the 8th of January, 2012, which affected the health of all the four suspects.”
He also noted that the remaining defendants are still in Kuje Prisons and they are facing similar conditions that claimed the life of Osvwo.
“At this juncture, we are constrained to state that we find it extremely inequitable that virtually all the suspects linked to the Boko Haram bombings have been enjoying bail while our clients, the alleged masterminds of the October 1, 2010 bombings, (still presumed innocent) continue to suffer indignities in custody” stated the lawyer.
Mr. Keyamo noted that “we, their solicitors raised alarm about that development at the time.” “Prior to his death in custody, ‘Gbokos’ had been urinating and defecating on himself in the prison and despite pleas by his solicitors requesting that he be treated properly, no one attended to him.”
He therefore called on Nigerians to join in the call for the bail of his clients and that the release of the other suspects in custody must be quickly facilitated “to attend to their deteriorating health before they die in custody.”
Authorities of the Nigeria Prison Service are yet to respond to the allegations.
The Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) claimed responsibility for the car bombing on October 1, 2010 during the nation’s 50th anniversary celebration. The blast which was the militant group’s attack in the nation’s capital, Abuja killed at least 12 people, wounding dozens of other.
MEND’s leader, Henry Okah is also standing trial in South Africa for allegedly master-minding the October bombing. He has also denied the allegation.
Henry Okah’s brother, Charles Okah, is amongst the three remaining suspects in Kuje Prison.
Charles Okah was arrested in Lagos, days after the two deadly car bomb blast after a raid of his residence.
