Abuja, June 23, 2026 – The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate claims that evidence presented in an ongoing alleged coup plot case was leaked and circulated on social media.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the directive on Tuesday after the prosecution raised concerns that materials submitted in court and made available to defence lawyers had appeared online.
The judge further ordered that any online publication found to have violated previous court directives aimed at protecting witnesses should be thoroughly investigated, with those responsible identified and prosecuted.
She noted that the inquiry should proceed alongside the trial, particularly as all six defendants, through their legal representatives, denied any involvement in the alleged leak.
During the proceedings, lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), informed the court that videos tendered as evidence had reportedly surfaced on social media. He alleged that the materials were shared by a social media personality known as VeryDarkMan, whom he said was present in the courtroom.
Oyedepo requested an investigation to determine how the exhibits found their way into the public domain.
Responding to the allegation, counsel representing the defendants distanced themselves from any connection to the leaked materials. Some of the lawyers urged the prosecution to file a formal application backed by an affidavit to enable them properly address the claims.
Following arguments on the matter, the court proceeded to hear applications for bail filed on behalf of the accused persons.
While defence lawyers sought favourable bail conditions for their clients, the prosecution opposed the requests and asked the court to reject them.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter to June 25 and June 30 for the first, second and third defendants to open their defence in the trial-within-trial. The fourth, fifth and sixth defendants are scheduled to present their defence on July 1 and July 2.
The court also fixed July 20 for its decision on the bail applications.
Earlier, the prosecution sought to tender statements made by the defendants during investigations as evidence.
The request was made through the fourth prosecution witness, identified only as “DDD,” who testified in the trial-within-trial convened to determine whether the statements were obtained voluntarily.
Led in evidence by Oyedepo, the witness rejected claims that the defendants had been subjected to torture, intimidation or harassment during interrogation. He maintained that the statements were given willingly and without coercion.
Addressing allegations that some of the defendants were restrained with chains, the witness denied the claim, stating that they walked into the interview room unassisted.
According to him, any use of chains would have been noticeable in the audio and video recordings already played before the court.
The witness also told the court that none of the defendants requested the presence of legal counsel, family members, representatives of the Legal Aid Council or a Justice of the Peace during questioning.
He urged the court to admit both the written statements and audiovisual recordings of the interviews as evidence.
During cross-examination, defence lawyers questioned the absence of lawyers and other independent witnesses during the interrogation process. However, the witness maintained that the defendants were neither forced nor pressured into making their statements.
At the conclusion of his testimony, the prosecution closed its case in the trial-within-trial after presenting four witnesses.
The six defendants are facing prosecution over allegations that they were involved in a plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu.