Court orders DIA to produce Kaduna cleric detained over coup plot against Tinubu

The federal high court in Abuja has ordered the DefenceIntelligence Agency (DIA) to produce Sani Zaria, a prominent Kaduna-basedIslamic cleric, in court on February 18 over allegations of his involvement ina coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s administration. In January, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) confirmed that 16military officers were arrested in the first week of the month over the allegedcoup attempt against President Bola Tinubu’s administration. On Friday, Peter Lifu, the presiding judge, ruled on afundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the cleric, who has been indetention since December 2025. The sheikh was initially arrested by the Economic andFinancial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before being handed over to the DIA. In the suit, the respondents include the EFCC, DIA, Attorney-General of the Federation, and Jaiz Bank Plc. The cleric is seeking his release, arguing that hiscontinued detention lacks proper legal justification. During proceedings, the federal government failed to producea valid court order authorising his detention, prompting sharp criticism fromthe bench. Lifu had earlier directed the DIA to present any such orderor justify the custody under relevant laws, including the Administration ofCriminal Justice Act. The judge condemned the prolonged detention and ordered theagency to bring the applicant before the court, ostensibly to consideradmitting him to bail pending further hearings.

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