- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the remand of the six suspected coup plotters in the Department of State Services (DSS) custody.
NPO earlier Reported the arrival of the suspects at the court’s premises on Wednesday.
The defendants comprising of senior military officers and others were arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
They were arraigned on a 13-count charge bordering on alleged treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence, and funds laundering.
The defendants in the charge include Maj. Gen. Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (Rtd), Naval Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor (Rtd), serving Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, and three others—Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.
After the charge was read to them, the suspects reportedly pleaded not guilty.
They were subsequently remanding as the court fixed April 27 for the commencement of their trial.
At the centre of the case is an allegation that the defendants conspired in 2025 to undermine the Nigerian state.
They were alleged to have conspired with one another to levy war against the state to overawe the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, among others.
The offence is said to be punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
Earlier when the case was called, all the lawyers to the parties were in court except counsel to the 3rd defendant (Insp Ahmed Ibrahim).
Ibrahim, who sought the attention of the judge, said all efforts to brief his lawyer for the hearing were unsuccessful.
The judge then directed that the case should proceed since the matter was for their arraignment and lawyers do not enter plea for defendants.
Fagbemi, who led a team of Federal Government’s lawyers to the court, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the defendants to take their plea.
“Subject to your lordship convinience, we are ready and we apply that the charge be read to the defendants,” he prayed.
Mohammed Ndayako (SAN) who appeared for 1st defendant; Chibuike Ukah, lawyer to the 2nd defendant; C. D. Okafor, who represented the 4th defendant; Mohammed Ibrahim, who appeared for 5th defendant and Sanusi Musa (SAN) counsel for the 6th defendant, did not oppose Fagbemi’s application.
The judge then ordered that the charge be ready to the defendants to take their plea.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Fagbemi, therefore, applied that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the DSS and that the court should make an order for accelerated hearing of the case.
Responding, Ndayako, who appeared for 1st defendant, informed the court of their bail application already filed before the court, which he said had been served on the prosecution earlier in the morning.
“We pray for a short date to hear it my lord,” he said.
According to him, on the application by the honourable AGF, there should be a caveat that we should be allowed to see the defendants because since October last year, we have been unable to see the 1st defendant, not until yesterday.
He said this was necessary because they need to prepare for their defence.
Fagbemi, in response, assured the lawyers that they would be given access to their clients in line with the law.
“I can assure you that your right to interact with your clients will not be denied,” he said.
Ukah, Okafor and Ibrahim, speaking in the same vein, said though they had been unable to see their clients until yesterday, they expressed their satisfaction with the AGF’s response.
According to Ibrahim, the statement of the honourable AGF is so assuring.
However, Musa, who appeared for the 6th defendant (Sheikh Abdulkadir Sani), told the court that they had had access to the defendant since he was moved to DSS custody.
“On our part, since when the 6th defendant was moved from DIA (Defence Intelligence Agency) to DSS, we don’t have a complaint,” the senior lawyer said.
He, therefore, commended the DSS for making it easy to have access to their client.
When Justice Abdulmalik told other lawyers to consult Musa on the procedure he had been following to meet his client, the lawyer said other defendants had been in the custody of DIA.
Ibrahim, who had no legal representation, then prayed the court to permit A.I. Lemu, SAN, to be his lawyer pending when his counsel is properly briefed.
Lemu, therefore, volunteered to offer representation for Ibrahim.
Responding to all the lawyers’ reactions, the AGF advised them to ensure that they follow the protocol at the detention facility and let the authorities know in good time whenever they plan to see the defendants.
“I am happy that all of you (the lawyers) are not oppose to accelerated hearing so that we have the matter disposed of in good time,” he said.