The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the detention of six defendants accused of involvement in an alleged coup plot, after they firmly denied all charges brought against them by the Federal Government. Prosecutors accused the defendants of conspiring to undermine the Nigerian state through acts linked to terrorism, including plans to wage war […]
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the detention of six defendants accused of involvement in an alleged coup plot, after they firmly denied all charges brought against them by the Federal Government.
Prosecutors accused the defendants of conspiring to undermine the Nigerian state through acts linked to terrorism, including plans to wage war and failure to report intelligence about the alleged scheme.
Those facing trial include former military and security personnel as well as civilians, while former minister Timipre Sylva was named in the charge but remains at large. The case has drawn significant attention due to the weight of the allegations.
The arraignment did not proceed smoothly at first, as one defendant appeared without legal counsel and another required translation support due to language barriers. The court resolved both issues before continuing with the hearing.
After listening to the charges, all six defendants rejected the allegations. Some admitted knowledge of funds mentioned in the case but maintained that the money had no connection to any illegal or terrorist activity.
The prosecution pushed for their continued detention and requested that the court speed up proceedings, arguing that the matter involves national security concerns. Defence lawyers, while not opposing the request, asked for proper access to their clients.
In her ruling, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered that the defendants be held by the Department of State Services and granted approval for an accelerated trial process. She also scheduled April 27, 2026, for the next hearing.
Outside the legal arguments, the human impact of the case became visible as family members appealed emotionally for leniency. Some wives said they had endured months without seeing their husbands and were struggling to support their children alone.