A South African judge, Neels Claaseen, who on Tuesday sentenced leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Henry Okah, to a 24-year jail term for terrorism-related offences, has said the convict's action and that of his group were meant to embarrass President Goodluck Jonathan.
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Okah, who was convicted on January 21, for his complicity in the twin car bombings of Nigeria's 50th independence anniversary in 2010 in Abuja, was jailed 12 years in prison for each bombing and 13 years for threatening the South African government after his arrest.
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A report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Wednesday quoted the judge as saying during his judgment that the two major bomb attacks within the vicinity of the Eagle Square, venue of the 50th independence celebration, for which Okah was convicted, were carried out to embarrass Jonathan.
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The judge also explained why he was reluctant to give Okah a life jail term, being the maximum sentence for the offence.
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Delivering his judgment on Tuesday in Johannesburg, Claaseen said: "Having found the accused guilty in the 13-count charge of acts of terrorism, it's now the duty of the court to sentence him, taking into account the position of the victim, the convict and the world community."
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He explained that MEND's struggle "is politically motivated and as a result, a maximum sentence for Okah will be inappropriate."
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The judge said South Africa being a signatory to the United Nations Treaty on Terrorism Acts allowed the convict to be tried in its territory although the crime was committed in Nigeria.
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"As a signatory, South Africa is duty bound to adopt the treaty and incorporate it into the laws of South Africa, in other words domicile the treaty," Claaseen said.
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According to him, it is the responsibility of the court in sentencing the convict to take into account the feelings of the world community and to make South Africa not conducive for terrorists to operate within the jurisdiction as member of the community of nations.
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Claaseen said all the 13-counts for which Okah was convicted of were related to three events: "The first event is the March 15, 2010 bomb attack, where two cars bombs occurred at the venue of a political gathering which was being attended by the Delta State Governor in Warri, Delta State, where one person died and several others were injured.
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"The second event occurred on October 1, 2010, in Abuja,, Nigeria's capital city, where two cars bombs exploded, killing eight people with several others injured.
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"Third event is the threat to the Nigerian government. All these three events were targeted at embarrassing President Goodluck Jonathan,'' Claaseen said.
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He added that these acts are serious crimes, which must be punished in accordance with the terrorism laws.
The offender is the one that should be embarrased not Mr President. I do not agree with the judge in any way.