Alleged coup: Court grants Nigerian Govt’s plea for witness protection

The Federal High Court successful Abuja connected Wednesday granted an exertion by the Federal Government to shield the sanction and individuality of its witnesser from the Nigerian Army successful the ongoing proceedings of six suspected coup plotters.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted the exertion aft taking arguments from counsel for the prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, and the defence lawyers.

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 arsenic 1st to 6th defendants, respectively.

Although the erstwhile Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, is not named arsenic a suspect successful the charge, helium is listed arsenic being astatine large.

The defendants were accused of alleged treason and terrorism, including nonaccomplishment to disclose information quality and wealth laundering linked to coercion financing, among different charges.

The defendants, who were arraigned connected April 22, 2026, pleaded not blameworthy to each the counts.

When the lawsuit was called for the commencement of proceedings connected Wednesday, Oyedepo told the tribunal that 4 witnesses were contiguous and the prosecution was acceptable to proceed.

Three witnesses fr...