Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja, on Monday barred journalists from covering the trial of six suspected coup plotters standing trial in her Court.
Some of the journalists had arrived at the court a little after 8am and secured seats thereafter on the last row, awaiting the commencement of court’s sitting.
Few minutes to 9am, an official of the court announced that those who were unable to secure a seat should vacate the courtroom because the judge would not allow anyone to stand when the court starts sitting.
While those without seats, including lawyers, were making their way out of the courtroom, another official of the court and a security personnel attached to the court came to where journalists were sitting and asked them to stand up and exit the courtroom immediately.
When asked why, they said the presiding judge, Justice Abdulmalik, gave them the instruction not to allow journalists inside her court.
When th newsmen told the court workers that the trial of the alleged coup plotters was of public importance and that there was no court order that proceedings should be conducted without media presence, the officials insisted they were acting on the judge’s instruction.
Shortly after the journalists were successfully evicted, the security official locked the door.
However, observed that Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, later arrived at the FHC at about 10:35am, and headed to Court 6, venue of the trial.
It would be recalled that Justice Abdulmalik had, on Jan. 23, walked out a reporter from NAN from covering the two separate suits filed by a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, and the Kabiru Turaki-led leadership of the PDP, which had now been decided by the court.
When the judge came in and saw the reporter standing by a side in the courtroom, she asked: “May I know who you are?”
When the reporter responded that he is a journalist, she ordered him out of the courtroom since the reporter could not secure a seat.
Justice Abdulmalik had, April 22, ordered the remand of the alleged coup plotters in the Department of State Services (DSS) custody.
The judge, in a ruling, also ordered accelerated hearing in the case.
Justice Abdulmalik equally ordered the DSS to give the lawyers and family members access to the defendants within a reasonable time.
The judge then adjourned the matter until April 27 for commencement of trial and for hearing of the bail applications of the defendants.
The order followed the arraignment of the six defendants by the AGF on behalf of the Federal Government.
The Federal Government had filed a 13-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026, against the defendants.
The suspects are retired Maj-Gen. Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Capt. (NN) Erasmus Ochegobia Victor , Insp Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani, listed as 1st to 6th defendants respectively.
Although the former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, is not named as a defendant in the charge, he is listed as being at large.
The defendants were accused of alleged treason and terrorism, including failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing, among other charges.
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.
Journalists were on Monday asked to leave the courtroom at the Federal High Court in Abuja as it prepared to hear bail applications for six defendants accused of plotting against President Bola Tinubu.
A Court official and a member of the State Security Service (SSS) directed reporters to vacate the courtroom shortly before the trial judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, took her seat.
The court official who did not mention his name told journalists the instruction came from the judge Abdulmalik, while an SSS operative said he would explain later. The reporters, however, left immediately after the judge was seated.
Reporters had arrived at the court as early as 8:00 a.m., but left at about 9:07 a.m. after the directive.
The Federal Government on Wednesday, 22 April, arraigned a retired army general and five others over an alleged failed coup against Mr Tinubu.
The six defendants are Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, a retired major-general; Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, a retired navy captain; Ahmed Ibrahim, a police inspector; and Zekeri Umoru, an electrician at the Presidential Villa. Others are Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani, a Zaria-based Islamic cleric.
They face 13 counts that include treason, terrorism, failure to disclose information, and money laundering. All six pleaded not guilty when the charges were read.
After the plea, Judge Abdulmalik granted accelerated hearing and fixed Monday, 27 April, for the bail hearing. She also ordered that the defendants be remanded in SSS custody.
Meanwhile, Timipre Sylva was named in seven of the 13 counts but has not been charged as a defendant. Prosecutors said he is on the run.
Mr Sylva denied the allegation in a statement last year. He said he was abroad and would return to clear his name. He has not done so.
PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that at least 40 suspects, including serving and retired military officers and civilians, were arrested over the alleged plot.
The 36 serving officers were arraigned on Friday at about 8:53 a.m. before a court martial at the Guards Brigade Scorpion Mess in Asokoro, Abuja.
Court access and treatment of journalists in Judge Abdulmalik’s court
Journalists have, on several occasions, been asked to leave the courtroom presided over by Joyce Abdulmalik when proceedings are underway.
Court officials have sometimes cited limited space in the courtroom as the reason for asking persons standing, including journalists, to leave.
In some instances, reporters who identified themselves as journalists were still asked to vacate the courtroom.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has multiple courtrooms handling criminal and civil matters. However, journalists say access to some sessions has been restricted compared to others.