Alleged coup: Judge bars journalists from covering proceedings
Journalists were ordered out of Court 6 of the Federal High Court in Abuja, venue of the trial of six men accused, among others, of plotting to take over the
Journalists were ordered out of Court 6 of the Federal High Court in Abuja, venue of the trial of six men accused, among others, of plotting to take over the government.
Some journalists had arrived at the court a little after 8 am and secured seats thereafter on the last row, awaiting the commencement of the court's sitting.
A few minutes before 9 am, a court official announced that those unable to secure a seat should vacate the courtroom, as the judge would not allow anyone to stand when the court begins sitting.
While those without seats, including lawyers, were making their way out of the courtroom, another court official and security personnel attached to the court approached the journalists and asked them to stand and exit the courtroom immediately.
When asked why, they said the presiding judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, had instructed them not to allow journalists into her court.
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When told that the trial of the alleged coup plotters was of public importance and that there was no court order requiring proceedings to be conducted without media presence, the officials insisted they were acting on the judge's instructions.
Shortly after the journalists were successfully evicted, the security official locked the door, after which the judge commenced sitting.
The six men, Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (rtd), Captain (NN) Erasmus Ochegobia Victor (rtd), Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani, were arraigned on April on a 13-count charge.
The six defendants are, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026, alleged to have plotted to levy war against the state to overawe the President of the country.
They are accused of offences ranging from treason and terrorism to failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.
The defendants are alleged to have “conspired with one another to levy war against the state to overawe the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” an offence punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
The prosecution further alleged that the defendants had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others, but failed to alert authorities.
