Six defendants on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to a 13-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism and coup plotting before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The defendants—Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (retd.), Erasmus Ochegobia Victor (retd.), Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani—are facing charges including conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism and attempting to “levy war” against the Nigerian state.
A former Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, was also listed in the charge as being at large.
The prosecution was led by Lateef Fagbemi and Director of Public Prosecutions Rotimi Oyedepo, who informed the court that the charges were ready for arraignment.
Proceedings briefly stalled after the third defendant told the court his lawyer was absent, while another delay followed when the sixth defendant required an interpreter because he communicates only in Arabic and Hausa. The court later resumed and all six defendants entered not guilty pleas.
During the arraignment, one defendant acknowledged recognising a sum mentioned in the charge but denied any link to terrorism, while another described the money as a gift and also denied involvement in any unlawful plot.
Following the pleas, the prosecution requested that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services pending trial and sought an accelerated hearing of the case. Defence counsel also applied for bail and requested adequate access to the defendants to prepare their case.
Counsel for several defendants raised concerns about previous difficulties in meeting with their clients, although the prosecution assured the court that established procedures exist to facilitate access to detainees.
In her ruling, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody and directed that they be granted access to their lawyers. The court fixed April 27, 2026, for the commencement of trial and hearing of bail applications.
Meanwhile, wives of some of the defendants appealed for their husbands’ release, saying they had not seen them since their arrest about six months ago and were facing hardship caring for their families.
