Court remands alleged coup plotters in DSS custody
The proceedings, which began at about 1:46pm, saw the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), inform the court that the charges were ready for reading, urging the court to proceed with the arraignment.
The session, however, experienced a brief delay after the third defendant told the court that his counsel was unavailable, while counsel to the sixth defendant disclosed that his client only understood Arabic and Hausa, necessitating the provision of an interpreter. The court subsequently stood down the matter.
Upon resumption at about 2:18pm, the six defendants entered their pleas, all denying the allegations and pleading not guilty to the charges.
Following the arraignment, the prosecution applied for the defendants to be remanded in DSS custody and also sought an accelerated hearing of the case.
Most defence counsel did not oppose the request for speedy trial, although counsel to the first defendant indicated plans to file a bail application.
In his ruling, the trial judge granted the request for accelerated hearing and ordered that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody, with access to their legal representatives.
The court adjourned the case until April 27, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
