A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the remand of six defendants in the custody of the Department of State Services following their arraignment on a 13-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism-related offences.
The court proceedings commenced in the early afternoon, with the prosecution led by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, informing the court that the charges against the defendants were ready to be formally presented. He subsequently sought the court’s permission for the charges to be read, marking the official start of the arraignment process.
During the proceedings, there was a brief disruption when one of the defendants informed the court that his legal representative was unavailable due to health reasons. In a separate development, counsel representing another defendant raised concerns about language barriers, explaining that his client could only communicate in Arabic and Hausa. This prompted the court to temporarily stand down the matter to allow for the provision of a qualified interpreter, ensuring that all defendants fully understood the proceedings.
When the session resumed shortly afterward, the charges were read in court, and each of the six defendants entered their pleas. All of them denied the allegations brought against them and pleaded not guilty, setting the stage for a full trial.
Following the arraignment, the prosecution requested that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the DSS pending the determination of the case. The prosecution also urged the court to grant an accelerated hearing, citing the seriousness of the charges and the need for a swift judicial process.
The defence teams did not strongly oppose the request for remand, although counsel to the first defendant indicated an intention to file a formal application for bail at a later stage.
In his ruling, the presiding judge granted the request for an expedited hearing and ordered that the defendants remain in DSS custody. The court also directed that they be given adequate access to their legal representatives to prepare for their defence.
The case was subsequently adjourned until April 27, 2026, when the trial is expected to commence. The development marks the beginning of what is likely to be a closely watched legal process, given the gravity of the charges and the involvement of national security considerations.
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