Court orders remand of alleged coup plotters in DSS facility

The Federal High Court of Nigeria sitting in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the remand of six defendants in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) after they were arraigned on a 13-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism and related offences.

The proceedings commenced at about 1:46 p.m. before Joyce Abdulmalik, where the prosecution, led by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), informed the court that the charges were ready for reading and urged that the arraignment proceed without delay.

The sitting was briefly delayed after issues arose concerning legal representation for one of the defendants, while another defendant informed the court that he understood only Hausa and Arabic, prompting the court to stand down proceedings to provide an interpreter.

When the matter resumed at about 2:18pm, all six defendants entered their pleas and denied all 13 counts brought against them.

Following their not-guilty pleas, the prosecution applied for their remand in DSS custody and also requested an accelerated hearing of the case. The application was not opposed by most defence counsel, although counsel to the first defendant indicated plans to file a bail application.

Ruling on the applications, Justice Abdulmalik ordered that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody but granted them access to their legal representatives. The court also approved an accelerated hearing of the case.

The matter was adjourned to April 27, 2026, for commencement of trial.

The case adds to a growing list of high-profile national security-related prosecutions currently before the Federal High Court in Abuja.