The Judge presiding over the trial Henry Okah has fixed Tuesday, 26 March, for the sentencing of the former Niger Delta militants leader in South Africa.
An application for a special entry of irregularity or illegality brought on Monday by Mr Okah’s defence counsel in the terror case was declined by Judge Neels Classen of the South Gauteng High Court.
The application referred to Section 317 of the South African Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 and Section 2(1) of the international cooperation in criminal matters Act 55 of 1996.
After hours of arguments by the prosecuting and defence counsels, the judge ruled that on the three major points raised in the application, it is frivolous and absurd to say that the presence of the State Security Service (SSS) prosecutor, Clifford Osagie, had an adverse effect on the case.
The case has been adjourned to Tuesday, 26 March.
On January 21, Okah was found guilty on 13 counts of terrorism, including engaging in terrorist activities, conspiracy to engage in terrorist activities, and delivering, placing, and detonating an explosive device.
The charges related to two car bombs in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in which 12 people were killed and 36 injured on October 1, 2010.