Nigeria Retired General, Five Others Plead Not Guilty to Coup Charges, Court Adjourns Bail Hearing to April 27

The Digest:
A retired army major-general, a retired navy captain, a police inspector, and three others have pleaded not guilty to all 13 charges in an alleged failed coup plot against President Bola Tinubu. They were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday. The judge ordered an accelerated hearing and fixed April 27 for the bail hearing. Five defendants were remanded in DSS custody, while an Islamic cleric who came to court on his own was also remanded.

Key Points:

• The defendants include Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (retired major-general), Erasmus Victor (retired navy captain), and Ahmed Ibrahim (police inspector).
• A former Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, was named in the charges but remains at large.
• The prosecution alleged funds totalling N71.2 million were linked to terrorism financing.
• One defendant claimed N50 million in his account was not for terrorism.
• Another said he accepted N1 million as a gift from the alleged coup leader.

The six men remain in DSS custody as the court prepares to hear their bail applications on April 27.

Sources: Premium Times