Charles Okah

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday adjourned till March 15, a no-case submission  filed by Charles Okah, the alleged mastermind of the Independence Day bombing at Eagle Square Abuja in 2010.

A no case submission is a term used in criminal cases whereby a defendant seeks acquittal without having to present a defence.

The plea is also occasionally, though rarely, used in civil cases where it is alleged that the pleaded case and/or evidence do not meet the minimum threshold to establish liability.

Charles Okah, is standing trial alongside Obi Nwabueze, for allegedly masterminding the Oct. 1, 2010 Nigeria’s Independence Day bombing at the Eagle Square Abuja.

At the resumed hearing, counsel to Okah, Samuel Izibiri (SAN), sought the order of the court to file a no-case submission, saying the prosecution had not made any case against his client.

The trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, granted the application and ordered that the motion be filed and also served to the prosecution within 14 days.

Justice Kolawale said the prosecution should also respond within seven days of such service and adjourned hearing till March 15.

At the last hearing, the prosecution closed his case after calling 17 witnesses to testify.

The 17th and last prosecution witness was an operative of the Department of State Security (DSS) Humphrey Ohikware.

Ohikware had during a cross examination by Okah’s counsel, Izibiri, told the court that he was not at the scene of the bomb blast.

The witness also said he did not participate in the investigation; neither did he make any written statement regarding the blast. (NAN)