New Mend threat over 'secret' trial move

Nigerian miltiant group the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) has condemned Abuja's decision to hold Mend leader Henry Okah's trial in camera, saying the government's decision leave it no option but to step up attacks on the country's oil sector.

In a statement emailed to news agency Bloomberg today, Mend said that the Nigerian government has chosen to "hold the trial in secret because it wants to hide from the world its inability to substantiate the charges against Okah".

Okah was arrested with a companion, Edward Atatah, in Angola in September on allegations of arms dealing.

The pair were extradited to Nigeria in February and now face charges of treason and arms trafficking, which both carry the death penalty.

Earlier this week, a court in Abuja granted the prosecution's request to hold the trial in camera because of security concerns.

Mend has been behind a campaign which has shut in about 20% of Nigeria's output capacity over the past two years. The group acknowledges that Okah leads one of its factions, but denies that he has any involvement in its armed campaign.

"We do not expect they will get a fair trial if conducted in secret,'' Mend spokesman Jomo Gbomo told Bloomberg.

"Regardless of this trial, we are continuing the armed struggle as that seems to be the only language the government understands.''

Mend said it is fighting for increased access to the Niger Delta's oil wealth for its inhabitants, who remain among the poorest in the country of 140 million people.