Alleged Coup Plot: DIA Transfers Detained Zaria Cleric to DSS as Court Awaits His Production

The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has transferred a detained Islamic cleric from Zaria, Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir, to the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) amid ongoing investigations into an alleged coup plot against the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The transfer came as legal proceedings continued over the cleric’s prolonged detention and his pending application for bail before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The development was disclosed on Wednesday during a scheduled court sitting, following the DIA’s failure to produce the cleric as earlier ordered by the court. A Federal High Court presided over by Justice Peter Lifu had, on Friday, directed the DIA to bring Sheikh Abdulkadir before the court on February 18, 2026, to enable the judge determine his bail application and address issues surrounding his detention.

At the resumed hearing, counsel to the cleric, Mohammed Sheriff, informed the court that his client was no longer in the custody of the DIA, explaining that he had been transferred to the DSS. The disclosure followed inquiries by the court over the continued absence of the detainee, who has reportedly been held without access to family members or associates since December 11, 2025.

However, the hearing itself could not proceed as planned. Court officials informed those present that Justice Lifu was unavailable, having been invited to attend the inauguration ceremony of 14 newly appointed judges of the Federal High Court, held at the Supreme Court in Abuja on the same day. The matter was consequently adjourned, leaving unresolved questions about the legality and conditions of the cleric’s detention.

Sheikh Abdulkadir had earlier approached the court through a fundamental rights enforcement suit, naming the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Defence Intelligence Agency, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, as well as Jaiz Bank Plc, as respondents. In the suit, the cleric is seeking his immediate release, alleging unlawful detention and a violation of his constitutional rights.

Family sources and individuals close to the case have linked the cleric’s arrest and detention to a financial transaction allegedly connected to the coup investigation. According to these accounts, a sum of ₦2 million was transferred into Sheikh Abdulkadir’s bank account by one of his followers who has reportedly been indicted in connection with the alleged coup plot. The cleric is said to be a leader within the Fityanul Islam Tijanniyya sect, and investigators are believed to be probing the circumstances and purpose of the transaction.

While security agencies have not publicly detailed the specific allegations against the cleric, court records indicate that the DIA justified his detention on grounds of “security reasons,” citing an ongoing investigation. Justice Lifu, in earlier remarks on the case, noted that the applicant had been kept in what authorities described as “safe custody” for several weeks, without formal charges being filed or access granted to his legal team and family members.

The transfer of Sheikh Abdulkadir from the DIA to the DSS has sparked further debate among legal observers and members of the public, particularly regarding inter-agency handling of suspects in sensitive national security cases. Critics argue that the prolonged detention without arraignment raises serious constitutional concerns, while others insist that security agencies must be allowed adequate latitude to investigate alleged threats to national stability.

As the court awaits the production of the detained cleric, attention remains focused on whether the DSS will comply promptly with future court orders and whether formal charges will eventually be brought against Sheikh Abdulkadir in connection with the alleged coup plot. Until then, the case continues to underscore the tension between national security imperatives and the protection of fundamental human rights in Nigeria’s legal system.