A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has ordered the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) to produce Sheikh Sani Zaria, a prominent Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, in court on February 18 over allegations of his involvement in a coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), in January 2026, confirmed that 16 military officers were arrested in the first week of the month over an alleged coup attempt against President Tinubu-led administration.
The court presided over by Justice Peter Lifu on Friday, February 13, 2026, ruled on a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the cleric, who has been in detention since December 2025.
Sheikh Sani Zaria was initially arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), before he was handed over to the DIA.
In the suit filed by the Islamic cleric in which he is seeking his release from detention, the respondents include the EFCC, DIA, Attorney General of the federation, and Jaiz Bank Plc.
Sani Zaria argued in the suit that his continued detention lacks proper legal justification.
During the proceedings, the federal government failed to produce a valid court order authorising his detention, thereby prompted sharp criticism by the court.
Justice Lifu had earlier directed the DIA to present any such order or justify the custody under relevant laws, including the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
The judge while condemning what he noted as prolonged detention, ordered the DIA to bring the applicant before the court, with a view to consider admitting him to bail pending further hearings.
