A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday convicted the trio of Ali Mohammed, Adamu Karumi and Ibrahim Usman of participation in acts of terrorism and of being members of a proscribed organisation, the Boko Haram sect.
Justice Ibrahim Buba who pronounced them guilty of the offence subsequently sentenced the trio to a prison term of 75 years to be shared equally.
Mohammed, Karumi and Usman were among the 17 suspected Boko Haram members arraigned before Buba on an 8-count of conspiracy to commit terrorism, illegal possession of firearms, and of being members of a proscribed organisation.
Arraigned along with them were Bala Haruna, Idris Ali, Mohammed Murtala and Kadiri Mohammed.
Others were named as Mustapha Daura, Abba Duguri, Sanni Adamu, Danjuma Yahaya and Musa Audu and Mati Daura, Farouk Haruna, Abdullahi Azeez, Ibrahim Bukar and Zula Diani.
Though the 17 men had all pleaded not guilty to the offence, only Mohammed, Karumi, Usman and the fourth defendant, Haruna had stood through the entire trial length.
It was gathered that the Attorney General of Lagos State and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye had, by nolle prosequi, discontinued criminal proceedings against the fifth to seventeenth accused persons and they had consequently been since discharged.
On Tuesday only Muhammed, Karumi, Usman and Haruna were brought before Buba for judgement.
Though the judgement was delivered in camera, a source who witnessed the proceeding later gave journalists the facts of the judgement on condition of anonymity.
Before delivering the judgement, the trial judge, Buba had ordered journalists, litigants and lawyers in other matters to vacate the courtroom.
The judge who had earlier announced that the judgement would be given at 12pm first sought the views of the lawyers if it was within the law to give the judgement in the open court before the public.
The Director of the Public Prosecution, Mrs. Idowu Alakija had responded by saying that since the trial was conducted in camera for security reasons, judgement should also be given in the same manner.
But Buba who said that even judges learn everyday insisted that he would like to know what the law stipulates about giving judgement in camera and how his colleagues in Abuja normally handle the case.
While saying he would like to do a short research on the subject, Buba rose at about 11.30am with a promise to return by 12pm.
At the resumed hearing at 12pm, the judge again asked the parties to address him on the legality of giving judgement in Camera.
Ipaye responded by saying that if the trial was conducted in secret, the judgement should also be delivered in secret as the judgement is viewed as an inherent part of the proceeding.
The legal team of the defence maintained the same position.
Buba subsequently ordered everyone except the parties and the security operatives to vacate the courtroom to allow him give his judgement.
In a bid to cover the proceeding, journalists had approached the Deputy Chief Registrar and the Administrative Head of the Court, Mr. Bello Okandeji to complain.
Okandeji then led journalists to the court but the security men at the door to the courtroom told the DCR that they had specific instructions not to allow anyone into the courtroom at the moment
But at the end of the judgement, the said source had spoken with journalists.
It was learnt through the source that 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 substantiate the allegation.
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, 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 ammunition.
The other items said to have been found in their possession include 200 rounds of 7.6 millimetres of live ammunition, two suitcases containing explosives, and a water container filled with explosives.
According to the prosecution, the offences contravened 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.