By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of six defendants accused of plotting a coup to oust President Bola Tinubu in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The court gave the order on Wednesday, April 22, after the defendants were arraigned on a 13-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism brought against them by the Federal Government.
At the sitting, which commenced at about 1:46 pm, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), informed the court that the charge was ready and sought leave to have it read to the defendants.
Proceedings were briefly stalled after the third defendant informed the court that his counsel was indisposed, while counsel to the sixth defendant said his client understood only Arabic and Hausa, prompting the court to stand down the matter to secure an interpreter.
When the court reconvened at about 2:18 pm, all six defendants took their pleas and denied the allegations, pleading not guilty to the 13 counts.
Following the arraignment, the prosecution applied for their remand in DSS custody and urged the court to grant an accelerated hearing of the case.
The prosecution’s request was not opposed by most defence counsel, although the first defendant’s lawyer said he intends to file a bail application.
The trial judge ordered an accelerated hearing, directed that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody with access to their lawyers, and adjourned the matter till April 27, 2026, for commencement of trial.
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Recall that the Federal Government filed a 13-count charge before the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, April 20, against the alleged coup plotters.
Among the suspects are a retired major general, a retired naval captain, a serving police inspector, and three others.
The defendants include retired Major General Mohammed Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani
Also listed in the charge is a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who is said to be at large.
The charge, filed on Monday by the Office of the AGF and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), accuses the defendants of offences ranging from alleged treason and terrorism to failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants conspired in 2025 “to levy war against the state to overpower the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” an offence punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
The Federal Government further alleged that the defendants had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others, but failed to alert authorities.
Furthermore, the defendants were also accused, according to the charge, of, while “knowing that a treasonable act was intended to be committed, did not give information thereof with all reasonable despatch to either the President… or a peace officer.”
They were also accused of failing to take preventive steps and “did not use any reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the offence.”
Apart from treason, the defendants are facing terrorism-related charges of conspiracy under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as they “conspired with one another to commit an act of terrorism in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
