Judge stops journalists from covering suspected coup plotters’ trial

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday barred journalists from covering the trial of six suspected coup plotters.

The suspects were arraigned by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), for alleged plot to topple President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Some of the journalists had arrived at the court a little after 8:00 a.m. and secured seats thereafter on the last row, awaiting the commencement of court’s sitting.

At a few minutes to 9:09 a.m., an official of the court announced that those who were unable to secure a seat should vacate the courtroom because the judge would not allow anyone to stand when the court starts sitting.

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While those without seats, including lawyers, were making their way out of the courtroom, another official of the court and a security personnel attached to the court came to where journalists were sitting and asked them to stand up and exit the courtroom immediately.

When the officials were asked the reason for such an action. they said Justice Abdulmalik gave them the instruction not to allow journalists inside her court.

When the journalists told the court workers that the trial of the alleged coup plotters was of public importance and that there was no court order that proceedings should be conducted without media presence, the officials insisted they were acting on the judge’s instruction.

Shortly after the journalists were evicted, the security official locked the door.

Justice Abdulmalik had on January 23 walked out a journalist from covering the two separate suits filed by a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the Kabiru Turaki-led leadership of the PDP, which had now been decided by the court.

When the judge came in and saw the reporter standing in a corner of the courtroom, she asked: “May I know who you are?”

When the man responded that he is a journalist, she ordered him out of the courtroom since he could not secure a seat.

The judge, on April 22, ordered the remand of the alleged coup plotters in the Department of State Services (DSS) custody.

She also ordered an accelerated hearing in the case.

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