South Africa: No Extradition Request For Blasts Suspect

South Africa: No Extradition Request For Blasts Suspect
Funke Atohengbe, Pretoria

South Africa says it has not received any extradition request from Nigeria for the former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Henry Okah, who is standing trial in South Africa for alleged complicity in the blasts during celebrations to mark Nigeria 's 50 th Independence Day.

Okah appeared before a Johannesburg Court in South Africa last week for his alleged involvement in the two explosions near Eagles Square , Abuja on October One.

The South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mrs Maite Nkoana-Mashabane stated this to newsmen, while briefing them on her visit to Nigeria , as one of the foreign dignitaries at  Nigeria 's 50th independence anniversary.

Mrs Nkoana-Mashabane described the explosions as barbaric and said relations between Nigeria and South Africa remained stable and was being consolidated.

She said in furtherance of the cordial relations, Nigeria's Vice President, Namadi Sambo was due to visit South Africa next month, ahead of the 8 th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission, scheduled for 2011.

Mrs Nkoana-Mashabane said Nigeria continued to provide continental leadership in peace and security and was a regional leader in the context of regional integration.

The Minister also said South Africa 's Independent Electoral Commission was collaborating with Nigeria 's Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure credible 2011 elections in Nigeria .

Yinka