Abuja court bars journalists from covering suspected coup plotters’ trial

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday barred journalists from covering the trial of six suspected coup plotters being tried by the Federal Government.

Some of the journalists had arrived at the court at about 8 a.m. and secured seats, awaiting the commencement of court’s sitting.

At about 9 a.m., an official of the court announced that those who were unable to secure a seat should vacate the courtroom because the judge would not allow anyone to stand when the court starts sitting.

While those without seats, including lawyers, were making their way out of the courtroom, another official of the court and a security officer attached to the court came to where journalists were sitting and asked them to stand up and exit the courtroom immediately.

When asked the reason for the directive, they said the presiding judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, gave them the instruction not to allow journalists inside her court.

When the journalists told the court workers that the trial of the alleged coup plotters was of public importance and that there was no court order that proceedings should be conducted without media presence, the officials insisted they were acting on the judge’s instruction.

Shortly after the journalists were successfully evicted, the security official locked the door.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), later arrived at the court at about 10:35 a.m.

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Justice Abdulmalik had, on April 22, ordered the remand of the alleged coup plotters in the Department of State Services (DSS) custody.

The judge, in a ruling, also ordered accelerated hearing in the case.

Justice Abdulmalik equally ordered the DSS to give the lawyers and family members access to the defendants within a reasonable time.

The judge then adjourned the matter until April 27 for the commencement of trial and for hearing of the bail applications of the defendants.

The defendants were accused of alleged treason and terrorism, including failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing, among other charges.

The matter is currently ongoing as at the time of filing this report.