The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday barred journalists from covering the bail hearing of six men accused of plotting a coup against the administration of Bola Tinubu.
The restriction was enforced shortly before proceedings began. Court officials, supported by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), ordered all reporters out of the courtroom.
This happened moments before the presiding judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, entered to sit.
A court official, who did not give his name, told journalists the instruction came directly from the judge. An SSS operative also confirmed the directive but said further explanation would be provided later.
Journalists complied with the order. They quietly vacated the courtroom.
Many correspondents had arrived as early as 8:00 a.m. to cover the hearing. However, they were forced to leave around 9:07 a.m., just minutes before the session began.
The development has drawn attention due to the high-profile nature of the case. The six defendants were arraigned last week by the Federal Government over an alleged failed coup attempt.
Those standing trial include Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, a retired major-general; Erasmus Victor, a retired navy captain; Ahmed Ibrahim, a police inspector; and Zekeri Umoru, an electrician working at the Presidential Villa.
Others are Bukar Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.
They are facing a 13-count charge. The charges include treason, terrorism, failure to disclose information, and money laundering. All six defendants pleaded not guilty.
After their arraignment, Justice Abdulmalik approved an accelerated hearing. She fixed April 27 for the bail application and ordered that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody pending further proceedings.
Meanwhile, Timipre Sylva was mentioned in seven of the charges. However, he was not listed as a defendant. Authorities say he remains at large.
Security agencies had earlier arrested at least 40 suspects linked to the alleged plot. The group reportedly includes serving and retired military officers, as well as civilians.
Out of the number, 36 serving officers have already been arraigned before a court-martial. The proceedings are taking place at the Guards Brigade facility in Asokoro, Abuja.
Monday’s action is not the first time journalists have been denied access in Justice Abdulmalik’s courtroom. There have been repeated instances where reporters and observers were asked to leave during proceedings.
Court officials often cite limited space. However, even accredited journalists have not always been allowed to stay.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has 13 courtrooms handling both civil and criminal matters. Access to hearings, however, appears to vary depending on the case.