The Federal Government has arraigned a retired military officer and five others before the Federal High Court in Abuja over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The defendants, including retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana and retired Naval Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, were brought before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on Wednesday. They are facing a 13-count charge linked to the alleged failed coup.
Also charged are Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani, an Islamic cleric based in Zaria, Kaduna State.
All six defendants entered not guilty pleas when the charges were read in court.
Following the pleas, Justice Abdulmalik directed that the case be fast-tracked and scheduled April 27 for the hearing of bail applications.
Five of the accused were escorted to court by operatives of the State Security Service and were subsequently remanded in custody pending the outcome of their bail requests. In contrast, Abdulkadir Sani, who had previously been granted unconditional release, attended the proceedings independently.
The hearing, which began around 1:40 p.m., attracted considerable public attention as the high-profile trial got underway.
