Journalists were on Monday, April 27, 2026, barred from covering proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja during the hearing of the application for bail by six defendants accused of plotting a coup against the government of President Bola Tinubu.
Media reports state that court officials, supported by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), ordered reporters to leave the courtroom shortly before the commencement of the proceedings before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
An unidentified court official informed journalists that the directive originated from the judge, while DSS operatives stated that an explanation would be provided later. The reporters, who had arrived as early as 8:00 a.m. to cover the hearing, complied and exited the courtroom without resistance.
They were asked to leave at about 9:07 a.m., just minutes before the bail hearing began.
The defendants are facing a 13-count charge bordering on treason, terrorism, failure to disclose information, and money laundering. They include Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, a retired major-general; Erasmus Victor, a retired navy captain; Ahmed Ibrahim, a police inspector; Zekeri Umoru, an electrician at the Presidential Villa; Bukar Goni; and Abdulkadir Sani, a Zaria-based Islamic cleric. All have pleaded not guilty.
Following their arraignment, Justice Abdulmalik granted an accelerated hearing and fixed April 27 for the bail application hearing, while ordering that the defendants remain in DSS custody.
Meanwhile, a former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, was mentioned in some of the charges but was not listed as a defendant, as he is reportedly still at large.
The exclusion of journalists from the proceedings comes amid growing public interest in the trial and renewed concerns about access to court proceedings in high-profile cases. This is not the first time reporters have been restricted from Justice Abdulmalik’s courtroom, as court officials have, on several occasions, cited limited space as a reason for barring observers and media personnel.
The development has raised fresh questions about transparency in the handling of sensitive criminal trials involving national security allegations.
