A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the remand of six defendants in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) following their arraignment on a 13-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism.
The proceedings, which started at about 1:46pm on Wednesday, saw the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, inform the court that the charge was ready for reading to the defendants.
Though, the session was momentarily interrupted when the third defendant informed the court that his counsel was indisposed.
While counsel to the sixth defendant stated that his client understood only Arabic and Hausa, prompting the court to stand down the matter to secure an interpreter.
However, when the court reconvened at about 2:18 pm, all six defendants took their pleas and denied the allegations, pleading not guilty to the 13 counts.
Following their arraignment, the prosecution counsel requested that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody and urged the court to grant an accelerated hearing of the case.
The judge adjourned the matter till April 27, 2026, for commencement of trial.
More details to follow…
