Nigeria's Tinubu administration confronts coup plot trial and probe of leaked evidence

The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate claims that video evidence from the ongoing trial of six men accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government was posted on social media by the online figure known as VeryDarkMan. The six defendants – retired Major General Mohammed Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Victor, Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni and Abdulkadir Sani – face a 13‑count indictment that includes treason, terrorism financing and money‑laundering charges.

The federal government has prepared a list of 30 prosecution witnesses, encompassing military officers, forensic experts, officials from more than a dozen banks, civilian informants and representatives of three hotels, to substantiate the case. Bail applications for the defendants were heard and deferred, with further defence sessions scheduled for late June and early July. The court also set a July 20 date for ruling on the bail applications while the DSS investigation proceeds alongside the trial.