A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered six defendants remanded in Department of State Services custody after they were arraigned on 13 counts of alleged terrorism linked to a coup plot.
Proceedings began at 1:46 p.m. when Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, asked the court to read the charges to the defendants.
The hearing stalled briefly after the third defendant told the court his counsel was unavailable. Counsel to the sixth defendant then informed the court that his client understood only Arabic and Hausa. The judge stood down the matter to secure an interpreter.
When the court resumed at 2:18 p.m., all six defendants pleaded not guilty to each of the 13 counts.
The prosecution asked that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody and sought an accelerated hearing. Most defence counsel did not oppose the remand. Counsel to the first defendant said he would file a bail application.
The trial judge granted accelerated hearing and ordered the defendants remanded in DSS custody with access to their lawyers. He adjourned the case to April 27, 2026, for trial.
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