The Federal Government on Wednesday arraigned the suspects arrested for allegedly plotting to oust President Bola Tinubu before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
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The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, led the prosecution.
All the defendants were present in court, aside from a former Minister of Petroleum, Timiprye Sylva, who is said to be at large.
Among the defendants in court was Major General Ibrahim Gana (retd), who was in a wheelchair.
The arraignment was earlier stood down by the judge, to enable the court to get an interpreter for the sixth defendant (Sheikh Abdulkadir Sanni), who only understands Hausa and Arabic, according to his counsel.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the 13-count charge when it was read in their hearing.
Following their plea of not guilty, the AGF asked that they be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) and for an expeditious trial.
Counsel for the first defendant, Mohammed Ndayako, asked for a caveat to enable them to have access to the defendants in the custody of the DSS.
The AGF, in reply, assured them that the right to access the defendants would not be denied.
Fagbemi added that it was never brought to his notice that they (defence counsel) could not access their clients.
He said he was delighted that they were all on one page, pertaining to the accelerated trial.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, therefore, ordered an accelerated trial and that the defendants be placed in the custody of the DSS.
The case was adjourned to April 27 for trial and an accelerated hearing.
The government had on Tuesday filed a 13-count charge before the court against the suspects.
The government had filed a 13-count charge before the court against alleged coup plotters.
