Coup Conspiracy Unfolds: DSS Takes Detained Islamic Cleric from Zaria to Court

Sheik Abdukadir Sani Zaria, the Islamic academic apprehended by the Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, regarding the purported scheme to topple the administration of President Bola Tinubu, has been transferred to the Federal High Court in Abuja for legal proceedings.

He was escorted to court by a contingent of security personnel and his close associates.

Sani, who has been in the custody of the DIA and subsequently the Department of State Service, DSS, since December 2025, was identified as one of the six individuals involved in the coup attempt listed in the charge sheet submitted by the Federal Government, scheduled for arraignment in court today, Wednesday.

The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, AGF, is set to prosecute him along with five others, including military officials accused of conspiring to initiate conflict against the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Islamic cleric was referenced in counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 for conspiracy with others to commit a felony while he faced a separate charge in count 9 of the 13-count indictment.

Among the allegations against him were plans to undermine a legitimate government, withholding information regarding the coup plot, and providing assistance to the coup conspirators.

In count 9, the cleric was accused of maintaining a sum of N2 million in his account numbered 0005620270 at Jaiz Bank, which was transferred into the account by a company, “A & A Express Link Concept,” owned by one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji, believed to be the principal orchestrator of the coup plot.

His charge of financing terrorism was stated to violate section 18 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and subject to punishment under section 18 (3) of the same Act.

Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had on Monday mandated the immediate and unconditional release of the Islamic scholar from the custody of the
DIA and subsequently the DSS.

The judge imposed a penalty of N2 million each on DIA and DSS to be remitted to the cleric for infringing sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, regarding the manner in which the 75-year-old individual was detained for over four months without trial.

In a ruling on the fundamental rights application filed against DIA and others by the detained Islamic cleric,
Justice Lifu instructed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and Jaiz Bank to each compensate him with N1 million for freezing his bank account without a court directive.

Furthermore, the Federal High Court directed the DIA and DSS to issue a public apology to the detained Islamic scholar for violating his fundamental rights.

Sheikh Sani Abdulladir Zaria was detained without a court order due to his alleged connection with one of the coup plotters against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Justice Lifu criticized the DIA for not complying with civil governance and the rule of law by failing to present the detained individual in court when instructed to do so.

He remarked that as an agency established by law, the DIA should not consider itself above the laws of the land while executing its statutory responsibilities.

The judge affirmed that the stipulations of Section 36(1)(5) and (6) of the 1999 Constitution are applicable to him and “to all citizens.”

He observed that Nigeria, as a signatory to various international human rights treaties, cannot afford to lag behind on such issues.

The judge noted that since December 11, 2025, the applicant was held in “safe custody” without family and associates’ access following an investigation initiated against him, justified as security reasons.

Justice Lifu ordered the AGF to ensure immediate adherence to the court’s ruling.

The cleric had been taken into the DIA’s custody since December of last year after the discovery of N2 million in his Jaiz Bank account, transferred by one of the accused coup plotters.

Although he consented to forfeit the amount to regain his freedom, the security agency retained him to investigate the extent of his involvement in the alleged coup plot.

The Islamic cleric maintained his innocence regarding the alleged offenses, asserting that the individual who transferred the funds into his account was merely one of his followers.