In a significant development in the alleged coup plot case, the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order directing the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate allegations that evidence presented in court and shared with the defendants’ legal teams had surfaced on social media platforms.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, presiding over the case, instructed the DSS to probe the prosecution’s claim that certain evidence tendered in court had been leaked and displayed on social media platforms.
The judge emphasised that if any evidence found on social media violated the court’s directive to protect witnesses, the DSS should conduct a thorough investigation to identify and hold the responsible party accountable.
The investigation was mandated to proceed concurrently with the ongoing trial, as all defendants, represented by their legal counsels, denied any involvement in the alleged leak.
During the court proceedings, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, representing the prosecution, raised concerns that videos submitted as evidence had been shared on social media by an individual identified as Very Dark Man.
Oyedepo highlighted that the same individual was present in the courtroom audience, prompting the request for an investigation into how the materials reached the said individual.
In response to the prosecution’s claims, all six defence lawyers denied any connection to the leak and requested formal applications and affidavits to respond adequately to the allegations.
Subsequently, the court considered the defendants’ bail applications. While defence lawyers advocated for lenient bail terms, the prosecution urged the court to reject the applications.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the proceedings to June 25 and June 30 for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants to present their defence in the trial-within-trial.
Following this, the 4th, 5th, and 6th defendants would have their turn on July 1 and July 2. The judge also scheduled a ruling on the bail applications for July 20.
The prosecution had earlier requested the court to admit statements made to it.
