S.Africa: Nigerian 2010 bomb suspect gets 24 years

[March 26, 2013]  JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- A South African court has sentenced a Nigerian to 24 years in prison after finding him guilty of masterminding twin car bombings in Nigeria.

Henry Okah was found guilty in January for the October 2010 double bombing in Nigeria's capital that killed at least 12 people and wounded three dozen during a celebration to mark the country's 50 years of independence.

The South African Press Association reported that Judge Neels Claassen announced Okah's jail sentence Tuesday, which includes 12 years in prison for each bombing and 13 years for threats made to the South African government after his October 2010 arrest. The 13 years will be served concurrently.

Okah is a leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta which claimed responsibility for the blasts.

[Associated Press]

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