3 Boko Haram Members Get 75 Years Jail Term

3 Boko Haram Members
Get 75 Years Jail Term

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday sentenced
three Boko Haram members to 75 years jail with hard
labour.
The judgement was delivered on Tuesday by
Justice Ibrahim Buba in camera.
Justice Buba had earlier granted an application that
the trial should be conducted in secret following an
application to that effect and because of the need
to protect the witnesses in the case.
Specifically, the convicts were sentenced to 25
years each.
Initially, 17 suspects were charged to court but they
were later reduced to four following the withdrawal
of the case against some of the suspects, leaving
only four.
The 17 suspects initially charged were arraigned
before Justice Buba on 18 counts bordering on
conspiracy to commit terrorism, illegal possession
of firearms, and being members of a proscribed
organisation.
They were Ali Mohammed, Adamu Karumi, Ibrahim
Usman, Bala Haruna, Idris Ali, Mohammed Murtala
and Kadiri Mohammed.
Others are Mustapha Daura, Abba Duguri, Sanni
Adamu, Danjuma Yahaya and Musa Audu and Mati
Daura, Farouk Haruna, Abdullahi Azeez, Ibrahim
Bukar and Zula Diani.
But the case was discontinued against all the
accused except the first four that went through trial
– Ali Mohammed, Adamu Karumi, Ibrahim Usman
and Bala Haruna.
Out of the four, Haruna was discharged by Justice
Buba on the ground that the government failed to
prove the allegations of terrorism funding against
him.
Haruna, according to the case of the government,
was said to have agreed to provide funds to
facilitate the escape of the first convict, Ali
Mohammed, from detention.
However, Justice Buba sentenced the first three
accused persons – Ali Mohammed, Adamu Karumi
and Ibrahim Usman – to 25 years imprisonment
each for participating in acts of terrorism.
In the charge, the prosecution alleged that the
accused persons committed the offences on March
21, at Plot 5, Road 69, Lekki Phase I Housing
Estate, and No. 24, Oyegbeni St., Ijora-Oloye,
Apapa-Iganmu, Lagos.
They were alleged 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.
The other items allegedly found in the possession
of the accused include 200 rounds of 7.6
millimetres live ammunition, two suitcases
containing explosives, and a water container filled
with explosives.
According to the prosecution, the offences
contravened provisions of Sections 13(2) and 17(b)
of the Terrorism Act 2013.
It also contravenes Sections 1, 8, 27 (1) (a) and (b)
of the Firearms (special provisions) Act, Cap F28,
Laws of the Federation, 2004, and punishable under
Section 8 of the same act.
The details of the judgement were given to
journalists by a source who was in court.
The source had pleaded anonymity.
In an attempt to cover the judgement, journalists
had approached the Deputy Chief Registrar and
Administrative Head of the court in Lagos division,
Bello Okandeji, who promptly intervened by leading
reporters to the court.
However, on getting to the court, Okandeji and
journalists were prevented from gaining access by
battle-ready members of Joint Task Force (JTF).
The security officers had specifically told Okandeji
that they were under the instruction not to allow
anybody into the courtroom.
Initially, Justice Buba had earlier announced that
the judgement would be given at 12pm and had
earlier sought the views of the lawyers if it was
within the law to give the judgement in the open
court before the public.
The representative of the prosecution, who was in
court, Idowu Alakija, however, responded by saying
that since the trial was conducted in camera for
security reasons, judgement should also be given in
the same manner.
Justice Buba, however, opted to know what the law
stipulates on giving judgement in camera and how
his colleagues in Abuja handle the cases before
them.
He then adjourned to conduct a short research.
Upon sitting again, Justice Buba again asked the
parties to address him on the legality of giving
judgement in Camera.
The Attorney General of Lagos State and
Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, who had been
in court, then responded by saying that if the trial
was conducted in secret, the judgement should also
be delivered in secret as the judgement was also an
inherent part of the proceeding.
The defence team also supported Ipaye’s position, a
development which made Justice Buba to order
everyone except the parties and the security
operatives out of the courtroom to allow him give
his judgement.