By Ayodele Oni
Rtd Major General Gana brought in on a wheelchair
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court Abuja, has fixed April 27 for commencement of trial of persons accused of plotting to overthrow the Federal Government.
The Court also ordered that the six persons accused of plotting to overthrow the Federal Government be put on remand at the detention facility of the Department of the State Service (DSS).
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the order on Wednesday following a request to that effect by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN, who led the federal government’s lawyers in the trial.
At the arraignment, all the six accused persons denied the 13- count treason charges brought against them by the federal government.
Shortly after their plea was taken, Fagbemi applied for accelerated trial of the defendants which was promptly granted by the Court along with remand at the DSS custody.
Attempt by some of the lawyers to move oral applications for bail of their clients was rejected by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik who ordered them to file formal applications.
She also ordered that their lawyers be allowed to access them for effective preparation of their defense in the charges against them.
Sunusi Musa, SAN, who stood for the renowned Islamic Cleric, Sheik Abdukadir Sani Zaria, thanked the AGF for the request to remand the accused persons at the DSS custody.
He said that the DSS had been very civil and respects the rights of his client since he was moved from the detention facility of the Defense Intelligence Agency DIA where he claimed no one was allowed to access detainees.
One of the defendants, retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana was brought to the court on wheel chair on accounts of his ill-health and old age.
Former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, also on the charge sheet is said to be at large
Those put on trial in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026 are retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.
In the 13-count charge, they were accused of plotting to levy war against the Federal Republic of Nigeria to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The alleged offence is said to be contrary and punishable under section 37 (2) of the Criminal Code.
The charge was filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.
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