Coup plot: DIA transfers Zaria cleric to SSS as court hearing stalls

The Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, has transferred detained Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir Zaria, to the custody of the State Security Service, SSS, over allegations linking him to a coup plot against the administration of Bola Tinubu.

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The development emerged on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja during the resumed hearing of a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the cleric.

The court, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, had earlier ordered the DIA to produce Sheikh Abdulkadir in court on February 18 to enable it determine his bail application.

However, at Wednesday’s proceedings, counsel to the cleric, Mohammed Sheriff, informed the court that his client was no longer in the custody of the DIA, having been transferred to the SSS.

Despite the update, the matter could not proceed as scheduled, as court officials announced that Justice Lifu was attending the inauguration of 14 newly appointed judges of the Federal High Court at the Supreme Court on the same day.

Mr Abdulkadir had instituted a fundamental rights enforcement action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the DIA, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, as well as Jaiz Bank Plc, seeking his immediate release from detention.

In the application, the cleric is challenging what he described as unlawful detention and violation of his constitutional rights.

The court had earlier observed that since December 11, 2025, the applicant had been held in what authorities described as “safe custody” without access to his family members or associates, following the commencement of investigations said to be based on security concerns.

Family sources have linked the cleric’s detention to a N2 million transfer allegedly wired into the bank account of a detained leader of the Fityanul Islam Tijanniyya sect by one of his followers. The said follower was reportedly indicted in connection with the recent coup allegation.

Security agencies have yet to publicly disclose detailed evidence connecting Sheikh Abdulkadir to any plot to overthrow the government.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the SSS nor the DIA had issued an official statement clarifying the circumstances surrounding the transfer or the specific allegations against the cleric.