EVENING UPDATES: Yar’Adua to receive Henry Okah in Abuja

Indications emerged on Friday evening that the release of the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Mr. Henry Okah, is being delayed because President Umaru Yar’Adua wants to personally receive him at the State House, Abuja.
Our correspondent gathered that arrangements were being made for the conclusion of negotiations for Okah’s release, to enable the president receive him on Sunday or Monday. Government believes that Okah is central to the resolution of the Niger Delta crises, especially since he is the leader of the mainstream militant group.
In fact, MEND has consistently listed Okah’s release as the main condition for it to end a blistering campaign of sabotage against the oil industry.
Our correspondent learnt that Yar’Adua was eager to receive Okah, in fulfilment of the president’s promise some weeks ago to personally welcome militant leaders that agree to surrender. Punch gathered that government’s negotiating team led by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa, had been working at fever pitch to clear all legal hurdles to Okah’s release by Sunday or Monday.
Our correspondent reports from Jos that the militant leader’s trial for gun-running and treason did not continue on Friday at a Federal High Court in Jos, Plateau State because Okah had been moved to Abuja.
Presidential spokesman, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, told Reuters in L’Aquila, Italy on Friday that Yar’Adua had ordered Aondoakaa to clear all “unnecessary legal hurdles” in the way, to enable the release take place quickly.
Feelers from Abuja indicated that since Yar’Adua did not state whether Okah should be released to either Aondoakaa or the National Security Adviser, Gen. Sarki Mukthar (rtd) or anyone else, it is definite that the president would receive the militant leader.
Reuters reports that a meeting between government’s team and Okah’s lawyers may hold in Abuja on Sunday or Monday. However, one of his lawyers, Mr. Wilson Ajuwa, told Punch on the telephone that the MEND leader’s counsel were yet to receive any invitation.
Punch gathered that Okah had signed a one-page renunciation form, renouncing all forms of militancy and pledging to abide by the laws of Nigeria.