A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday admitted extrajudicial statements and video recordings tendered by the Federal Government against six people accused of plotting a coup to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the defendants failed to prove their claim that the statements were obtained through coercion. She described the allegation of duress as an afterthought and dismissed assertions of torture.
The six on trial are retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani. They face a 13-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026.
Defence lawyers had objected to the admissibility of the statements, arguing that their clients did not make them voluntarily and were denied legal representation during interrogation. They also pointed to discrepancies between the video recordings and the written accounts. The court ordered a trial-within-a-trial to determine voluntariness while the fourth prosecution witness was testifying.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik held that the defendants had not established the coercion claim. She admitted both the written statements and the video recordings as part of the prosecution’s evidence.
The case was adjourned to December 7 and 10 for continuation of hearing.
One of the defendants, Umoru, an employee of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc in the Maintenance Department at the Presidential Villa, stated in a video recording played in court that discussions had taken place on switching off electricity supply to the villa to aid the alleged coup. He said he warned that such a move would trigger immediate investigations and the detention of workers on duty.
Umoru further alleged that the purported mastermind, Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, offered him money through Inspector Ibrahim to recruit between 18 and 19 people working inside the villa, including soldiers, Department of State Services officials and Julius Berger staff. He said Ma’aji indicated he wanted access to the villa and could achieve it by force if necessary.
The sixth defendant, Zaria-based Islamic cleric Sheikh Abdulkadir Sani, said in another video recording that he warned the plotters the plan would fail and that they would eventually be exposed. He stated he was informed of the plot and recruited to pray against the leakage of information about their activities.
Former Bayelsa State governor and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva is also named in the charge. The Federal Government said he is at large after leaving the country before the alleged plot was uncovered.
The defendants are accused of treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering in furtherance of terrorist acts. The prosecution alleged that sometime in September 2025 they conspired to levy war against the state to overawe the president, an offence under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code. They are also said to have had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others but failed to alert the authorities or take preventive steps.
Upon arraignment on April 22, all six pleaded not guilty and were remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services. The court had earlier granted the Federal Government permission to shield the identities of certain witnesses from the Nigerian Army because of the sensitive nature of the case. Three bank officials have also testified and tendered financial documents, including letters obtained from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
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