The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered a fresh hearing to determine whether statements obtained from suspects standing trial over an alleged coup plot were made voluntarily.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the order on Monday after lawyers representing the defendants challenged the admissibility of statements and video recordings presented by the prosecution.
The Federal Government is prosecuting six persons accused of plotting to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
During proceedings, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), sought to tender extra-judicial statements allegedly made by the defendants alongside video evidence recorded during interrogation sessions.
However, defence lawyers opposed the move. They argued that the statements were not voluntarily made and questioned the manner in which investigators obtained them.
The defence maintained that the interrogation process violated provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) as well as the Anti-Torture Act, 2017.
According to the lawyers, there were signs of oppression and possible coercion during the questioning of the suspects. They also argued that the video recordings failed to properly capture the process through which the statements were obtained.
Counsel to the fifth defendant, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), urged the court to conduct separate trial-within-trial proceedings for each defendant since all of them challenged the statements independently.
He argued that separate hearings would better serve the interest of justice.
Responding, Oyedepo said the prosecution had no objection to a trial-within-trial but asked the court to adopt a joint proceeding instead of conducting separate hearings for each defendant.
After listening to both sides, Justice Abdulmalik ruled in favour of a joint trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness of the statements.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until May 12 for continuation of proceedings.
The six defendants were arraigned by the Federal Government on April 22 over allegations linked to an alleged failed coup plot.
Those standing trial include retired Major-General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, and Zekeri Umoru, an electrician attached to the Presidential Villa.
Others are Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani, an Islamic cleric based in Zaria.
The defendants are facing a 13-count charge bordering on treason, terrorism, money laundering, and failure to disclose information relating to the alleged plot.
The alleged coup plan reportedly surfaced in September 2025, leading to the arrest of several serving and retired military officers, alongside civilians said to be connected to the conspiracy.
Some serving military personnel are also being tried separately before a General Court Martial.
Since the commencement of the trial, the prosecution has called multiple witnesses while several video recordings have also been played in open court as part of evidence.
The latest video evidence was played shortly before arguments over the admissibility of the statements began on Monday.
