The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered that six defendants arraigned on terrorism-related charges be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The suspects were arraigned on a 13-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism.
The sitting, which began at about 1:46pm, saw the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), informing the court that the charge was ready and seeking leave for it to be read to the defendants.
Proceedings were briefly delayed after the third defendant informed the court that his lawyer was indisposed. In another development, counsel to the sixth defendant told the court that his client understood only Arabic and Hausa, prompting the judge to stand down the matter to secure interpretation services.
When proceedings resumed at about 2:18pm, all six defendants were arraigned and they all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their pleas, the prosecution applied for the defendants to be remanded in DSS custody and urged the court to commence accelerated hearing of the case.
The request was largely not opposed by defence counsel, although the lawyer to the first defendant indicated plans to file a bail application.
In its ruling, the court granted the application for accelerated hearing, ordered that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody with access to their lawyers, and adjourned the matter till April 27, 2026, for commencement of trial.
