The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has transferred the detained Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir Zaria to the Department of State Services (DSS) after being accused of coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s government.

A Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Peter Lifu had on Friday ordered the DIA to produce the cleric on February 18 to determine his bail application.

At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, counsel to the cleric, Mohammed Sheriff, informed the court of the development following DIA’s failure to produce his client in court.

However, court staff informed that the judge was attending the inauguration of 14 new judges of the Federal High Court at the Supreme Court on the same day.

Sheikh Abdulkadir had filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the DIA, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and Jaiz Bank Plc seeking his release from detention.

Family sources linked the cleric’s ordeal to a N2 million gift wired to the bank account of the detained leader of the Fityanul Islam Tijanniyya sect by one of his adherents, who was indicted in the recent coup allegation.

The judge noted that since December 11, 2025, the applicant was kept in “safe custody” without access to family and associates after an investigation was opened about him, on grounds described as security reasons.