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The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of six defendants in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) following their arraignment on terrorism-related charges.
The defendants were brought before the court on a 13-count charge bordering on alleged acts of terrorism and conspiracy.
Ejes Gist News reports that proceedings commenced at approximately 1:46 p.m., with the prosecution led by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), confirming readiness to proceed and seeking permission for the charges to be read.
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Proceedings Temporarily Delayed
The arraignment experienced a brief delay after procedural concerns were raised by defence counsel.
- The third defendant informed the court that his legal representative was unavailable due to ill health.
- Counsel to the sixth defendant notified the court that his client understood only Arabic and Hausa, necessitating the provision of an interpreter.
The court subsequently stood down the matter to address these concerns and ensure fair hearing standards were maintained.
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Defendants Plead Not Guilty
When proceedings resumed at about 2:18 p.m., all six defendants entered their pleas. Each defendant denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution thereafter requested that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody pending trial and also urged the court to grant an accelerated hearing of the case.
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While most defence counsel did not oppose the request for an expedited hearing, counsel to the first defendant indicated plans to file a formal bail application.
In his ruling, the trial judge:
- Ordered that the matter be heard on an accelerated basis
- Directed that the defendants remain in DSS custody
- Granted the defendants access to their legal representatives
The case was adjourned to April 27, 2026, for the commencement of trial proceedings.
