A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered an accelerated hearing in the trial of six persons accused of plotting to overthrow the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, on Monday, invoked the court’s practice of speedy trial and fixed April 29, April 30, May 4, and May 5, 2026, for the commencement of trial and the hearing of the defendants’ bail applications.
At the proceedings, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, informed the court that the prosecution was fully prepared to proceed and had witnesses on standby, subject to the court’s convenience.
Counsel to the first defendant, Mohammed Ilayepo, drew the court’s attention to his client’s pending bail application. However, Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the substantive trial would commence before any applications for bail are entertained.
Lawyers representing the second, third, and sixth defendants—Paul Erokoro, A.I. Yeru, and N.S. Diri—expressed concerns over their preparedness, citing the short notice and the complexity of the charges.
In response, Justice Abdulmalik directed counsel for all parties to harmonize their schedules to ensure an expeditious hearing. Following consultations, the court adopted April 29, April 30, May 4, and May 5 for the accelerated trial.
The case is expected to draw significant national attention given the gravity of the allegations and the high-profile nature of the charges.
