The family of the detained Charles Okah, who is standing trial for October 1, 2010 bomb blast in Abuja , yesterday said his condition, is deteriorating on account of his being in solitary confinement.
Charles is a younger brother of the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, Henry Okah, who is also in detention in South Africa
The Okah family fears Charles may lose his sight if he is not allowed medical attention.
He is standing trial with Obi Nwabueze, Edmund Ebiware and Tiemkemfa Francis Osvwo.
The four suspects are on trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja , presided over by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, for alleged complicity in the two explosions which hit the Federal Capital Territory , Abuja on October 1, 2010 during Nigeria ‘s 50th Independence celebration.
About 12 people died in the bomb explosions.
Their trial resumes on Wednesday but the family is worried that no visitor has been allowed to see him since August.
A spokesperson for the family said in Abuja that the accounts of the suspect have also been frozen.
The source said: “His condition in Kuje Prison is not too good, but he’s managing. He gets abdominal pains from time to time because he has only one kidney.
“He seems pretty okay physically but he needs a proper medical check-up: his eye sight is going bad due to lack of sunlight. He also suffers from high blood pressure, diabetes and asthma.
“The medical attention he’s getting is not adequate, though he says the medical staff are doing the best they can under the prevailing circumstances.
“He does not have access to his family, he’s not allowed visitors, he’s not allowed to call his wife and family, not even his lawyer!
He last saw his wife in August. She has visited with friends and other family members three or four times from Lagos but on each occasion the DCP in charge turned her back because a SIM was found on Charles sometime in the past.
Asked why Charles is being kept in such a condition the source added: “The prison authorities say that they are acting on ‘orders from above.’
“He’s not allowed outside, he’s not allowed to worship, he has no access to information, tv, radio or newspapers even though the other inmates have access to these facilities.
“He’s not allowed to worship in the prison church; he’s not allowed to mix with other inmates.
“His lawyers have written on a number of occasions to the prison authorities to accord him the rights due him as one awaiting trial all to no avail.
“He told me that a senior prison official came from their head office and told him point blank that they (Nigerian prisons) do not take orders from lawyers or judges!
Responding to a question, the source said:”It is true his accounts have been frozen by the Federal Government.
“He also has a 40-feet container that was confiscated in October 2010 by the State Security Service (SSS).”
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