Abuja court excludes journalists from alleged coup suspects’ hearing and sets accelerated trial dates

Monday, April 27, 2026Rights & JusticeWell-covered3 frames

On April 27, 2026, journalists were ordered out of the Federal High Court in Abuja before proceedings in the case against six alleged coup suspects began.
Court officials and security personnel told reporters that the exclusion of journalists was on the instruction of Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
The six defendants are accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered an accelerated hearing in the case and set April 29, April 30, May 4 and May 5 for trial proceedings and bail-related hearings.
During the hearing, Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi told the court that the prosecution had witnesses ready, subject to the court’s schedule.
The judge ruled that trial proceedings would begin before any bail applications were considered.
The defendants include retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.
Reports available in the source pool did not provide an immediate public explanation from the court for excluding journalists from the proceedings.

On April 27, 2026, journalists were ordered out of the Federal High Court in Abuja before proceedings in the case against six alleged coup suspects began.
Court officials and security personnel told reporters that the exclusion of journalists was on the instruction of Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
The six defendants are accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered an accelerated hearing in the case and set April 29, April 30, May 4 and May 5 for trial proceedings and bail-related hearings.
During the hearing, Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi told the court that the prosecution had witnesses ready, subject to the court’s schedule.
The judge ruled that trial proceedings would begin before any bail applications were considered.
The defendants include retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.
Reports available in the source pool did not provide an immediate public explanation from the court for excluding journalists from the proceedings.