Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has granted an accelerated hearing in the trial of six suspects accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), during the proceedings, informed the court that the prosecution had witnesses available, subject to the convenience of the court.

Counsel for the first defendant, Mohammed Ilayepo, indicated that his client’s bail application was due for a hearing.

Justice Abdulmalik, however, ruled that the trial would commence before any bail applications are considered.

However, before the proceedings,journalists were ordered out of the court.
Some journalists had arrived at the court a little after 8:00 a.m. and secured seats thereafter on the last row, awaiting the commencement of the court’s sitting.

A few minutes before 9:00 a.m., an official of the court announced that those who are unable to secure a seat should vacate the courtroom because the judge would not allow anyone to stand when the court starts sitting.

While those without seats, including lawyers, were making their way out of the courtroom, another official of the court and a security personnel attached to the court came to where journalists were sitting and asked them to stand up and exit the courtroom immediately.

When asked why, they said the presiding judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, gave them instructions not to allow journalists inside her court.

When told that the trial of the alleged coup plotters was of public importance and that there was no court order that proceedings should be conducted without media presence, the officials insisted they were acting on the judge’s instruction.

Shortly after the journalists were successfully evicted, the security official locked the door, following which the judge commenced sitting thereafter.

It would be recalled that six men, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (rtd), Captain (NN) Erasmus Ochegobia Victor (rtd), Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani, were arraigned on a 13-count charge.

The six defendants, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026, were alleged to have plotted war against the state to overthrow the President of the country.

They were also accused of offences ranging from treason and terrorism, among others.