Court Bars Journalists from Coup Plotters' Bail Hearing

On April 27, 2026, a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Joyc Abdulmalik, prohibited journalists from attending the bail hearing of six defendants accused of plotting a coup against the Nigerian government. The defendants, who were arraigned the previous Wednesday, include Moham Ibrahim Gana, a retired Major General; Erasmu Victor, a retired Navy Captain; Ibrahim Zekeri Umoru, a police inspector; and an electrician from the presidential villa, along with Bukar Goni and Abdulkadir Sani, a Zaria-based Islamic cleric.

They face 13 counts of serious charges, including treason, terrorism, and failure to disclose information related to money laundering, to which they all pleaded not guilty. Following the arraignment, Justice Abdulmalik ordered an expedited hearing of the case and scheduled a determination of the bail application for April 27, directing that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) pending the hearing.