Proceedings in the trial of six suspected coup plotters commenced on Monday at the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja amid heightened public interest, as the presiding judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, ordered the exclusion of journalists from the courtroom.
The move, which effectively restricted media access to the high-profile case, was carried out shortly before the court began sitting. Journalists who had arrived early and secured seats in the courtroom were directed by court officials and security personnel to vacate the premises on the judge’s instruction.
Earlier, court officials had announced that individuals without seats should leave the courtroom to ensure orderliness, in line with the judge’s preference against standing during proceedings.
However, the directive later extended to journalists who had already been seated, prompting their immediate eviction.
Despite inquiries by the affected journalists, who argued that the matter was of significant public interest and that no subsisting court order barred media coverage, court officials maintained that they were acting strictly on the directive of Justice Abdulmalik. The courtroom doors were subsequently shut after the journalists exited.
The trial follows an earlier ruling delivered on April 22, in which Justice Abdulmalik ordered the remand of the six defendants in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
In the same ruling, the court directed that the case be given an accelerated hearing and was subsequently adjourned to April 27 for the commencement of trial and hearing of bail applications..
The six defendants including retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana; retired Captain (NN) Erasmus Ochegobia Victor; Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim; Zekeri Umoru; Bukar Kashim Goni; and Abdulkadir Sani, are facing a 13-count charge filed by the Federal Government.
Although a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, is not listed among the defendants, he is mentioned in the charge as being at large, adding another layer of complexity to the case.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026, borders on allegations of treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence, and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.
