By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria 

Two Nigerian men were sentenced to life on Wednesday after a federal high court found them guilty of masterminding the Oct. 1, 2010 bombing of the country's capital Abuja, in which at least 12 people died.  

Nigeria commemorates the anniversary of its independence every Oct. 1.  

Charles Okah and his co-defendant Obi Nwabueze, both members of the outlawed militant group Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), were also accused of masterminding another blast in the oil-rich town of Warri in March 2010.  

Both men plead not guilty to the charges, but Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the federal high court said the government proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The government said the two had planned the bombings with MEND chief Henry Okah, who was sentenced to 24 years in prison for the same offense in a South African court in 2013.

Last July Edmund Ebiware, the third defendant in the trial, was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the Abuja blast.  

Charles, Nwabueze, Ebiware, and Tiemkemfa Francis-Osvwo were first arraigned in December 2010 in connection with the bombings.  

Francis-Osvwo later died in detention.