JUSTICE Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered an accelerated hearing in the trial of six suspects accused of plotting to overthrow the administration of Bola Tinubu.
News Point Nigeria reports that the court fixed April 29, April 30, May 4, and May 5 for the commencement of trial proceedings, alongside the hearing of bail applications filed by the defendants.
During the proceedings, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, informed the court that the prosecution was ready to proceed and had witnesses available, subject to the convenience of the court.
Counsel to the first defendant, Mohammed Ilayepo, told the court that his client’s bail application was ripe for hearing.
However, Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the trial would proceed before any consideration of the bail applications.
Lawyers representing the second, third, and sixth defendants—Paul Erokoro, A. I. Yeru, and N. S. Diri—expressed reservations about proceeding immediately, citing short notice and the complexity of the case.
In response, the judge directed all counsel to confer and agree on suitable dates that would ensure a speedy trial.
Following this, the court formally adopted the scheduled dates for the accelerated hearing.
The Federal Government had earlier arraigned the suspects last Wednesday on multiple charges.
The defendants—Major General Ibrahim Gana (retd), who appeared in court in a wheelchair; retired naval captain Erasmus Victor; Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim; Zekeri Umoru; Bukar Goni; and Abdulkadir Sani—all pleaded not guilty to the 13-count charge when it was read to them.
Following their plea, Fagbemi urged the court to remand the defendants in the custody of the Department of State Services and to grant an expedited trial.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently ordered that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody and that the trial proceed on an accelerated basis.
The matter was adjourned to April 27 for trial and further accelerated hearing.
The charges, filed last Tuesday by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, include allegations ranging from treason and terrorism to failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2025 “to levy war against the state to overpower the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” an offence punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
Also named in the charge, but currently said to be at large, is a former Minister of Petroleum, Timiprye Sylva.
Meanwhile, concerns have been raised over transparency in the proceedings after journalists were reportedly barred from covering the trial.
Judiciary correspondents were left uncertain about developments in the case on Monday, particularly as the bail applications of the defendants remain pending before the court.