A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 convicted three insurgents including Ali Mohammed, Adamu Karumi and Ibrahim Usman participation in acts of terrorism and for being members of the much dreaded Boko Haram sect.
Subsequently, they were each given a sentence of 75 years imprisonment after Justice Ibrahim Buba pronounced them guilty of the offence.
Mohammed, Karumi and Usman were among the 17 suspected Boko Haram members prosecuted initially on an 8-count of conspiracy to commit terrorism, illegal possession of firearms, and membership of a forbidden group in the nation.
Also, Bala Haruna, Idris Ali, Mohammed Murtala and Kadiri Mohammed were equally prosecuted.
Others include Mustapha Daura, Abba Duguri, Sanni Adamu, Danjuma Yahaya and Musa Audu and Mati Daura, Farouk Haruna, Abdullahi Azeez, Ibrahim Bukar and Zula Diani.
Despite the fact that the 17 men all pleaded not guilty to the charges brought up against them, it was only Mohammed, Karumi, Usman and the fourth defendant, Haruna that stood through the entire trial duration.
According to Punch, the Attorney General of Lagos State and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye had, by nolle prosequi, stopped criminal charges against the fifth to seventeenth accused persons. Consequently, they have been released.
On Tuesday only Muhammed, Karumi, Usman and Haruna were brought before the trial judge, Buba court for judgement.
Although the judgement was delivered in camera, an anonymous source who was present during the proceeding later filled journalists in with the facts of the judgement.
Before delivering the judgement, the trial judge, Buba had blatantly dismissed journalists, litigants and lawyers in other matters from the court.
The judge who had earlier announced that the judgement would be given at 12 pm first sought the views of the lawyers if it was within the law to give the judgement in the open court before the public.
In response to the question, the Director of the Public Prosecution, Mrs. Idowu Alakija was of the view that that judgement should be passed in the same way with the trial which was conducted in camera for security reasons.
However, Buba maintained that no one is an island of knowledge as everyone learns everyday including the judges. Furthermore, he sought to know how his colleagues handle such cases and the take of the law about giving judgement in camera.
At about 11.30 am Buba excused himself for a short research on the subject promising to be back in thirty minutes time.
The judge on resuming hearing still demanded the parties to feed him with information abut what the law holds concerning passing judgement in a camera.
The team of litigators were all of the view that the judgement should be passed in the same manner the trial was done.
Subsequent to this, Buba asked everyone to vacate the courtroom excluding security personnel in order for the judgement to be passed.
Unhappy with the development, journalists expressed their feelings to the Deputy Chief Registrar(DCR) and the Administrative Head of the Court, Mr. Bello Okandeji .
Reacting to their complaints, Okandeji led journalists to the court but the security men at the door to the courtroom restricted them from entrance into the courtroom based on instructions.
However, the source relayed to journalists all the events that took place while they were away. According to the source,the fourth accused person, Haruna, who was alleged of conspiracy and funding of an attempted escape of the first defendant was acquitted and discharged as Buba held that the prosecution did not provide any proof for the charge.
Mohammed, Karumi and Usman were tried on offences bordering on terrorism said to have been committed on March 21, at Plot 5, Road 69, Lekki Phase I Housing Estate, and No. 24, Oyegbeni St., Ijora-Oloye, Apapa-Iganmu both in Lagos state.
They were said to have been caught in possession of three packets of explosive construction pipes, 15 detonators, and 11 AK47 rifles with 30 rounds of live missiles.
Moreover, other items alleged to be recovered from them include 200 rounds of 7.6 millimetres of live ammunition, two suitcases containing explosives, and a water container filled with explosive devices.
The trial stated that the offences breached the provisions of Sections 13(2) and 17(b) of the Terrorism Act 2013 as well as Sections 1, 8, 27 (1) (a) and (b) of the Firearms (special provisions) Act, Cap F28, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
