Abuja Court Bars Journalists from Coup Trial Bail Hearing

A Federal High Court in Abuja barred journalists from covering the bail hearing of six men charged with plotting a coup against President Bola Tinubu’s administration on Monday.

The court’s decision followed an intervention by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), who instructed reporters to leave the courtroom shortly before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik assumed her seat. According to court sources, the order originated from the presiding judge. At the time of filing this report, the media representatives complied and exited the courtroom, leaving the proceedings closed to the public press.

The six defendants were arraigned last Wednesday on allegations of an aborted coup attempt. The accused include retired Major‑General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Victor, Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, and Zekeri Umoru, who was employed as an electrician at the Presidential Villa. The remaining two suspects are Bukar Goni and Abdulkadir Sani, Islamic clerics based in Zaria.

The trial has drawn considerable public interest, given the serious nature of the charges and the high‑profile status of several defendants. The government has framed the case as a test of Nigeria’s democratic resilience and the rule of law, while the opposition and civil‑society groups have called for transparency throughout the judicial process.

The restriction on media access raises questions about the balance between national security considerations and the public’s right to information. Legal analysts note that journalists are ordinarily permitted to attend court hearings in Nigeria, except where specific orders are issued to protect confidential or sensitive matters. The judge’s clarification of the need for such a restriction has not been made public, leaving observers to speculate on the rationale.

The bail hearing is the latest procedural step in a case that could set precedents for how alleged coup plots are handled by the judiciary. The defendants remain in custody pending further court rulings, and the trial is expected to continue in the coming weeks. Stakeholders, including human‑rights organizations and international observers, are likely to monitor the proceedings closely to assess adherence to due‑process standards and the extent of media freedom in high‑security trials.