Court remands six in DSS custody over alleged terrorism

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the remand of six defendants in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, after they were arraigned on a 13-count charge relating to alleged terrorism.

At the commencement of proceedings, which began at about 1:46 p.m., the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, informed the court that the charge was ready and sought permission for it to be read to the defendants.

The hearing was briefly interrupted after the third defendant told the court that his lawyer was indisposed, while counsel to the sixth defendant indicated that his client only understood Arabic and Hausa, prompting the court to stand down the case to arrange for an interpreter.

When proceedings resumed around 2:18 p.m., all six defendants entered their pleas, denying the allegations and pleading not guilty to the charges.

Following the arraignment, the prosecution requested that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody and urged the court to grant an accelerated hearing of the case.

The request was largely unopposed by defence counsel, although the lawyer to the first defendant signalled plans to file a bail application.

In his ruling, the trial judge granted the request for an expedited hearing, ordered that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody with access to their legal representatives, and adjourned the case until April 27, 2026, for the commencement of trial.