Men of the State Security Service on Thursday prevented some journalists from covering the scheduled arraignment of 17 suspected members of the Islamic fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram, before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The Federal Government had on Tuesday arraigned four persons for similar offences before  Justice Saliu Saidu without barring journalists from covering the proceedings.

Though, the Thursday’s scheduled arraignment was stalled because five of the 17 accused persons did not have lawyers, the SSS officials had ordered journalists out of the courtroom few minutes before the arrival of the  presiding judge, Justice Musa Kurya.

According to the court paper numbered, FHC/L/299/13, the suspects were arrested at various locations in Lekki Phase I and Ijora Oloye in Apapa, both in Lagos State,  on March 21, 2013 .

The all-male accused persons were alleged members of the outlawed Boko Haram sect and were also said to be in possession of prohibited explosive substances, firearms and ammunition when they were arrested.

Items which the prosecution claimed were recovered from them included, three packets of explosive construction pipes; 15 detonators; and 11 AK-47 rifle magazines loaded with 30 rounds of live ammunition each.

They also included 200 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition; one AK-47 rifle magazine with three rounds of live ammunition each;  two suit cases containing explosives substances, and one water container containing explosive substances.

Others were, one bag containing canisters; one HP laptop; five Nokia handsets; and one red Volkswagen Golf car with number, SMK 427 AZ LAGOS, which was allegedly “meant to transport the explosives and other items.”

The court paper listed the accused persons as Ali Modu, Adamu Karumi, Ibrahim Ali, Ibrahim Bukar, Mohammed A. Mohammed, Bala Haruna, Idris Ali, Mohammed Murtala and Kadri Mohammed.

Others are Mustapha Hassan, Abba Duguni, Sanni Adamu, Danjuma Yahaya, Musa Bala, Bala Daura, Farouk Haruna and Abdula Zuladaini.

Eight counts of terrorism acts, possession of prohibitted firearms and ammunition were preferred against the accused persons.

It was learnt that Justice Kurya adjourned the matter till November 27 to enable all the accused persons to procure the services of their lawyers of choice.

The arraignment had earlier been stalled on October 2 because there was no one, who could interprete the charges to the accused persons in Hausa Language and again on October 9 because of the judge’s absence.

At the Thursday’s proceedings, all non-lawyers were ordered out of the 20-seat capacity courtroom by the security agents even before the arrival of the judge.

Some lawyers were excused out of the court room when the accused persons were eventually brought in.

Journalists who initially resisted the order by the SSS men were told that “it was an order from the Presidency not to allow the press to cover this case.”

One of the armed SSS men threatened to handcuff and lock up the journalists, who had told him that he was “obstructing the press from performing its constitutional duty.”

Tension enveloped the premises of the court as a joint team of armed prison and SSS personnel with four Alsatian dogs led the accused persons into the court premises at about 9.45am.

Some of the security agents took position at the front and back gates of the court located at 24, Oyinkan Abayomi Drive in Ikoyi.

They frisked everyone, including lawyers, before allowing them to enter the premises. Those whose mission was unconvincing to the security agents were turned back.

Officials of the Lagos State Government, which is prosecuting the suspects on behalf of the Federal Government, also refused to disclose information on the charges preferred against the accused persons.

Mrs. E.I Alakija of the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution, who led the prosecution on Thursday, asked journalists to approach the court for “all necessary information.”

However, journalists later obtained the document, which was signed by E.K Ugwu, and Assistant Director (Legal) for the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.