Seven individuals, including former Gambella Chief found guilty of terrorism offences

Addis Ababa, April 6, 2016 (FBC) – Seven individuals, including former Chief Administrator of Gambella Regional State, Okelo Okain, have been found guilty of terrorism offences today.
The Federal High Court 19th Criminal Bench passed a guilty verdict on Okelo Okain and other six defendants identified as David Ujulu, Uchan Opey, Uman Ngkiyew, Ujulu Cham, Ataka Uwar and Ubang Umed.

The Court passed the guilty verdict on first defendant Okelo Okain for aggravating the conflict that occurred in Gambella regional state 12 years ago between Anuak-Nuer tribes while he was Chief Administrator. Some 400 people were killed in the conflict.

After leaving the country on the same year, he continued issuing misguided information to home-based media, thereby worsening the conflict and loss of lives.

After he was granted asylum in Norway three years later, he has served as head of external relations of the terror group -the Gambella People’s Liberation Movement (GPLM), after meeting with founder and chairman of the group, Peter Kaga. Travel

He then began recruiting members for the terror group travelling to Europe and America as well as collecting up to 50 US dollars in a month from members. Heading to Eritrea, he has held discussion on his terror plan for about 45 days.

He also traveled to Germany, Saudi Arabia, Sweden and other countries to strengthen the terror group as well as recruited 860 people in Uganda after taking over the Gambella Democratic Movement’s (GDM) chairmanship from Johnson Ujulu in America.

The second defendant and a South Sudanese national, David Ujulu, 36, is head of the terror group’s South Sudan cell.

David Ujulu and the remaining defendants, including Okelo Okain, were detained by a joint operation of the Ethiopian and South Sudan security forces while planning to commit stern terrorist act.

The defendants were unable to defend themselves against the charges as well as to disprove the evidences presented against them.

The sentencing has been set for April 27, 2016, it was noted.