Plans to overthrow Tinubu: Court orders remand of alleged coup plotters in DSS facility

In a ruling made on Wednesday by the Federal High Court in Abuja, six suspects held in the custody of the DSS have been remanded in prison following their being arraigned on a 13-count charge of terror-related activities and other offences.

The process started shortly after 1:46 pm before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik when counsel for the prosecution, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), announced that they were prepared to read out the charges.

There were a few delays to the process, with one issue relating to the presence of legal representatives of one of the suspects, while another suspect informed the court that he could only speak Hausa and Arabic.

With the continuation of the proceedings around 2:18pm, all six accused entered their pleas and pleaded not guilty to all the 13 charges leveled against them.

With their not guilty plea, the prosecuting team moved the court to remand them in custody of the Directorate of State Security (DSS) and also asked for an accelerated hearing of the case. While the move did not face opposition from most defense counsels, the counsel for the first accused intimated his intention to make a bail application.

On ruling on the motion, the judge, Justice Abdulmalik, remanded the defendants in custody of the DSS but permitted them access to their lawyers. Also, he ordered an accelerated hearing of the case.

Proceedings in the case have been fixed for April 27, 2026.

This case joins several others pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja involving national security.