Court Bars Journalists From Covering Trial Of Alleged Coup Plotters Linked To Plot Against Tinubu

Court bars journalists from covering trial of alleged coup plotters linked to plot against Tinubu Journalists have been barred from covering the trial of six alleged coup plotters accused of attempting to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, raising concerns about transparency in the handling of the case. The restriction was enforced on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja as proceedings began in the case involving six suspects accused of plotting to remove President Tinubu from office. Although the case has not been officially declared a secret trial, court officials prevented journalists from entering the courtroom, effectively shutting out media coverage of the proceedings. The suspects are facing multiple charges, including alleged treason and terrorism related offences linked to an alleged conspiracy to destabilise the Nigerian government. The trial is part of a wider prosecution involving alleged coup-related activities, with earlier reports indicating that the defendants were arraigned under heavy security and remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) pending trial. The decision to exclude journalists has raised concerns among observers about openness in judicial proceedings, especially given the high-profile nature of the allegations and their political sensitivity. Critics argue that barring the press from court proceedings could undermine public confidence in the fairness and transparency of the trial process. The case stems from allegations of a coordinated attempt in 2025 to overthrow the Nigerian government. The Federal Government had previously filed a 13-count charge against the suspects, including allegations of treason, terrorism, and financing of terrorism. The court has scheduled further hearings in the matter, with the trial expected to continue under tight security arrangements.