The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered an investigation into the alleged leakage of a video recording connected to the ongoing trial of six individuals accused of plotting to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the directive during proceedings on Tuesday after concerns were raised by the prosecution regarding the circulation of a video that was reportedly tendered as evidence before the court.

The Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), informed the court that a video containing the statement of one of the defendants had appeared on social media despite an earlier judicial order restricting its public dissemination.

According to Oyedepo, the footage was discovered on the social media platform of popular influencer Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan. He described the development as a serious matter with potential implications for national security and the integrity of the judicial process.

The prosecutor argued that the publication of the video could prejudice ongoing proceedings and undermine confidence in the administration of justice. He further noted that the content had already attracted thousands of views online.

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In response to the complaint, Justice Abdulmalik directed the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the leak and determine whether any court order had been violated.

The judge referenced provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which empower courts to protect vulnerable witnesses and ensure compliance with judicial directives. She instructed security authorities to identify anyone responsible for releasing the footage and bring such individuals before the court if evidence establishes wrongdoing.

Justice Abdulmalik clarified that any legal action arising from the investigation would be treated independently from the main trial currently before the court.

Defence lawyers representing the accused persons denied any involvement in the appearance of the video online. While some members of the defence team expressed support for an investigation, they insisted they had no knowledge of how the recording became publicly available.

One of the defence counsel stated that the timing of the controversy was unfortunate because the defendants were actively pursuing bail applications before the court. Another lawyer argued that if an investigation was necessary, it should not be limited to the defence but should also consider all individuals who had access to the material.

However, a senior defence lawyer questioned the basis for the proposed inquiry, noting that without concrete evidence, it would be difficult to determine the source of the leak. He suggested that the footage could have originated from multiple sources involved in the case.

Earlier in the proceedings, the court heard testimony from a prosecution witness identified only by the codename DDD, an officer of the Nigerian Army who participated in the investigation of the alleged coup plot.

The witness rejected claims that any of the defendants were tortured, intimidated, or coerced into making statements during interrogation. According to him, interviews were conducted in a professional environment, and all suspects were informed that their statements could be used as evidence in court.

During cross-examination, defence lawyers questioned why legal representatives and family members were not present during the interrogation sessions. The witness maintained that none of the suspects requested legal counsel or family representation while giving their statements.

He also disclosed that the investigation was conducted by a joint team involving multiple security and intelligence agencies, including the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services, the Defence Intelligence Agency, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The court has reserved its decision on the defendants’ bail applications and adjourned proceedings to June 25 and June 30 for the continuation of the trial-within-trial process involving some of the accused persons.

The case remains one of the most closely watched legal proceedings in the country due to its national security implications and the serious allegations at its centre.