Lawyers of a suspected mastermind of the October 1, 2010 bomb blast, Charles Okah, have asked an Abuja Federal High Court to order an independent psychiatric evaluation of their client to ascertain whether he is mentally fit to face trial.
Okah’s mental health became a subject of debate after his lawyers claimed that he was not mentally fit to face trial over his alleged involvement in the bombing.
But the Federal Government is insisting that he is fit enough to be prosecuted.
To resolve the impasse, Justice Gabriel Kolawole had ordered that Okah’s mental health should be evaluated by psychiatrists at the National Hospital, Abuja.
The judge also ordered further evaluation of the accused person after his lawyers and prosecution counsel, Dr. Alex Izinyon, SAN, disagreed over the result of the initial examination but before the report of the fresh assessment could be made public, Okah’s lawyers on Monday moved an application, seeking an independent psychiatric evaluation.
Okah’s lawyer, John Aineto, told the court that an independent examination became necessary as the National Hospital, which examined Okah, was an agency of the Federal Government and as such could be biased.
Relying on two grounds, the defence counsel sought an order of the court granting leave for an independent, private medical practitioner to produce a medical report on Okah.
“There is need for the 1st accused person, Charles Tombra Okah, to be examined by an independent private medical practitioner for an impartial and neutral confirmation of the medical reports from both the Kuje Prisons Clinic and National Hospital, Abuja to ascertain the mental and physical health status of the 1st accused person,” Aineto argued.
Also, in a seven paragraph affidavit in support of the application, deposed to by one Sunday Ogbor on behalf of Okah’s family, the defence counsel insisted that “there is need to settle the issues relating to the health of the 1st accused person (Okah) before his trial, as good health is part of the facility he needs to be able to stand his trial.”
Justice Kolawole adjourned the matter till May 16 for the defence and prosecution counsel to argue the application.
Okah has been consigned to a wheel-chair in his recent appearances in court. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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