Lawyers representing individuals accused of plotting a coup against President Bola Tinubu have accused the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) of preventing them from having confidential consultations with their clients.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The lawyers, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Olalekan Ojo, reportedly refused to proceed with interviews on Monday after the agency allegedly assigned an official to remain with them and listen to their conversations.

Speaking to SaharaReporters, one of the lawyers said the legal team was surprised to discover that they would not be allowed to meet their clients privately when they arrived at the DIA facility.

“When we, including the learned Silk, Olalekan Ojo SAN, arrived at the DIA today (Monday) to interview our clients, to our surprise, we were not availed privacy with our clients, as a DIA staff was attached as a companion to listen to our conversations,” the lawyer said.

According to the counsel, the lawyers present jointly objected to the arrangement and agreed not to proceed with the interviews unless the agency’s personnel left the consultation area.

“This nauseating arrangement was contested, and all the counsel present agreed that we would not proceed with the interview until the companions are removed,” the lawyer stated.

The legal team said it communicated its concerns to the DIA coordinator, but the official reportedly insisted that agency personnel must be present during the consultations.

Following the disagreement, the lawyers resolved to maintain their position that discussions with their clients should take place without third-party interference.

“We are strongly advised that we should all follow suit and insist that no other person should be present while we conduct interviews with our clients,” the lawyer said.

The team further disclosed that Ojo advised the lawyers to document the incident and formally notify the court while awaiting a resolution.

“The learned Silk has also advised that all lawyers present there should report this ugly incident to the court in writing while we wait for a resolution,” the lawyer added.

Background Of The Alleged Coup Case

According to SaharaReporters, the alleged coup plot became public after the military arrested serving and retired officers in late September 2025.

The Defence Headquarters initially linked the arrests to disciplinary issues before later acknowledging that an investigation into an alleged plot to overthrow the government was underway.

Subsequently, a General Court Martial was established to handle the military proceedings, while prosecutors brought separate charges against six alleged conspirators before the Federal High Court.

The defendants involved in the civilian proceedings have denied the allegations against them. Some have also challenged the admissibility of statements and other evidence presented by the prosecution.

Investigators allege that the purported plot involved plans to take over strategic government and military installations and gain control of key communication facilities.

The military proceedings are being held at the Scorpion Officers’ Mess in Asokoro, Abuja.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has pledged to mobilise members of his Rainbow Coalition Movement to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, alongside National Assembly candidates in Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Wike made the pledge on Monday during a stakeholders’ meeting at his official residence in Life Camp, Abuja, where he called on members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to collaborate towards achieving their shared political objectives.

The meeting was attended by the PDP National Chairman, state chairmen of both parties, chairmen of the six FCT area councils, National Assembly candidates, former federal lawmakers and community representatives.

The FCT minister attributed the APC’s victory in the recent Edo State governorship election to an alliance between the party and what he described as the legacy PDP.

Addressing the gathering, Wike said the meeting was organised to strategise ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that members of both parties would work together to secure their preferred candidates.

“This meeting I called has to do with the 2027 general election. Whether you are in the PDP or APC, we are going to work together to achieve the same result.

“In the last election that took place in Edo State, the victory was as a result of the coalition between the legacy PDP and APC. We are going to work together to return President Tinubu and APC candidates for the National Assembly,” he said.

Wike also emphasised the importance of decisive leadership in achieving the coalition’s political goals, noting that effective leadership requires the ability to make firm decisions.

“Effective leadership encompasses decision-making capacity. It is not merely about correctness but rather the capability to make decisive choices; that constitutes authentic leadership,” he added.

The minister said he would oversee the coalition’s political operations and expressed confidence that the group would secure electoral victories.

“I have called you here to tell you that we shall be engaged in supporting President Tinubu’s administration.

“I hold the position of field operations officer, and under my leadership, success is assured. You will observe a marked transformation in the manner in which political operations are conducted,” he stated.

While Wike initially spoke about supporting APC candidates for the National Assembly, he later clarified that the coalition would also work for candidates from both the APC and PDP.

“Our collective endeavour will focus on securing President Tinubu’s re-election and supporting candidates for the National Assembly.

“We are committed to working on behalf of the President, encompassing candidates from both the PDP and APC,” he said.

Wike further maintained that members of the coalition had reached a consensus on supporting Tinubu for another term in office.

“There is consensus and harmony among us. We have collectively determined that Bola Ahmed Tinubu is our chosen candidate,” he declared.

Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) three days to address the alleged unlawful exclusion of his name from the final list of candidates for the 2027 Gombe State governorship election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

INEC reportedly omitted Pantami’s name from the final list of candidates for the governorship poll scheduled for February 6, 2027.

In a letter dated October 12, 2026, and addressed to the INEC chairman, Pantami’s legal representatives, Ahmed Raji & Co., demanded that the commission publish his name as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate within three days.

The letter, signed by lead counsel Ahmed Raji (SAN), maintained that Pantami was duly nominated by the PDP after winning a fresh primary election conducted on September 29, 2026.

According to the lawyers, Pantami is a registered PDP member from Pantami Ward in Gombe State. They stated that he purchased the party’s Expression of Interest and Nomination forms, underwent screening and received clearance before winning the initial primary held on May 26, 2026.

The legal team further explained that the PDP submitted Pantami’s personal details and Form EC9 to INEC on August 8, 2026. The commission subsequently published his name on August 29, 2026, in line with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026.

However, the May 26 primary was later challenged in two separate cases before the Federal High Court in Gombe State. The plaintiffs questioned Pantami’s membership of the PDP.

Raji stated that the court resolved the issue of party membership in Pantami’s favour in judgments delivered on September 24, 2026.

In one of the cases, the court reportedly held that the absence of Pantami’s name from an exhibit presented before it was not sufficient evidence to establish that he was not a party member.

The letter stated: “In the second suit, the court also held that the non-appearance of Pantami’s name in an exhibit tendered was not conclusive proof of non-membership. Membership of a political party is ordinarily a matter within the domestic affairs of the party.”

The lawyers explained that although the court nullified the May 26 primary over issues relating to its conduct, it directed the PDP to organise a fresh exercise within 30 days.

The order, according to the letter, required the party to give all aspirants who had been cleared on May 14, 2026, the opportunity to participate in the fresh primary.

Pantami’s legal team said the PDP complied with the court’s directive, notified INEC and conducted the new primary on September 29, 2026. Officials of the electoral commission reportedly monitored the exercise, in which Pantami emerged as the winner.

The lawyers consequently questioned INEC’s decision to exclude his name from the final list of candidates published on October 10, 2026, without providing an explanation.

They insisted that the commission should take immediate steps to correct what they described as an unlawful omission.

In the letter, the firm said it had received clear instructions from Pantami to demand that INEC publish his name as the PDP’s governorship candidate no later than Wednesday, October 14, 2026.

“We have our Client’s firm and unequivocal instructions to demand that the Commission, on or before Wednesday, October 14, publish and circulate the name of Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim as the candidate of the PDP for the office of Governor of Gombe State,” the letter stated.

The lawyers also urged INEC to confirm in writing the corrective measures it had taken to resolve the matter.