After a prolonged trial conducted privately, Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos, on Tuesday, sentenced three alleged Boko Haram members to 25 years imprisonment each, for acts of terrorism.
The three convicts were among 17 accused persons earlier charged before the court on November 27, 2013.
The accused persons are Ali Mohammed, Adamu Karumi, Ibrahim Usman, Bala Haruna, Idris Ali, Mohammed Murtala, Kadiri Mohammed, Mustapha Daura, Abba Duguri, Sanni Adamu, Danjuma Yahaya, and Musa Audu.
Others are Mati Daura, Farouk Haruna, Abdullahi Azeez, Ibrahim Bukar and Zula Diani.
The Lagos State government had proferred an eight-count charge on the accused, bordering on acts of terrorism and possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition.
Justice Buba, however, delivered judgment in camera, as journalists and other lawyers were ordered to vacate the courtroom, leaving the prosecution and defence counsel.
The judge had earlier sought the views of lawyers in court, if it was within the law to deliver the judgment in the open court.
The Deputy Director of Public Prosecution, Mrs Idowu Alakija, responded that since the trial was conducted in camera for security reasons, judgment should also be delivered in the same manner.
But Buba, who noted that judges learn everyday, said he would like to do a brief research on the subject and rose at about 11.30 a.m. with a promise to return by 12 noon.
At the resumed hearing, Buba again asked the parties to address him on the legality of giving judgment in camera.
The Attorney General of Lagos State, Mr Ade Ipaye, in response, said if the trial was conducted in secret, the judgment should also be delivered in secret, as the judgment was also an inherent part of the proceeding.
The defence team also maintained the same position.
Buba subsequently ordered everyone except the parties and the security operatives to vacate the courtroom, to allow him deliver his judgment.
According to the source, the court had found the first three accused guilty of the offence as charged, and had accordingly sentenced them to 25 years imprisonment each.
“The fourth accused, who was charged with allegedly sponsoring the sect, was, however, discharged and acquitted on the grounds that the prosecution failed to establish his guilt,” the source said.
The accused were said to have committed the offences on March 21, at Plot 5, Road 69, Lekki Phase I Housing Estate, and 24, Oyegbeni St., Ijora-Oloye, Apapa-Iganmu, Lagos.
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 ammunitions.
Foreign computer expert in military detention
Meanwhile, a foreign computer expert, who works for the Boko Haram terrorists, is currently being interrogated by military authorities.
Informed military sources disclosed to the Nigerian Tribune that the computer analyst was responsible for configuring internet and other computer accessories for the terrorist group.
According to the source, the expert was arrested during a crossfire in one of the onslaughts against the Boko Haram.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the detainee had even made some confessional revelations about the terrorists’ operations that could aid the troops to end the Boko Haram insurgency.
“We have made a very big breakthrough. The computer analyst is opening up and has made a very big revelation on the modus operandi of the sect,” the source said.
Also, the expert is said to be the backbone on the connections of the late impersonator, Mohammed Bashir, who always posed as Abubakar Shekau, the sect leader, whenever he is talking on YouTube.
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