“I Warned Them the Coup Would Fail”:Cleric Tells Court in Alleged Plot Against President Tinubu

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday played a video recording in which an Islamic cleric standing trial over an alleged coup plot claimed he warned the suspected conspirators that their plan to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government would fail.

The cleric, Sheikh Abdulkadir Sani, made the statement during an interview with investigators, which was played in open court before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

According to Sani, he became linked to the alleged plot through an associate identified as Sanda, who allegedly approached him on behalf of a senior military officer said to be Col. Maaji.

Sani told investigators that he was asked to offer prayers and spiritual guidance concerning plans to topple the government.

After conducting consultations and prayers, the cleric said he informed them that the operation would not succeed.

“I warned them the coup would fail,” Sani said in the recorded testimony.

He added that he also predicted that members of the group would eventually betray one another.

According to him, Sanda later returned requesting additional prayers “so that the two individuals would not betray the group.”

The cleric further told investigators that money was transferred to him for prayer sessions and charity, while names of individuals allegedly connected to the operation were sent to him for mention during prayers.

However, he denied receiving money to support any unconstitutional act.

“The money was meant for prayers,” he said.

Sani admitted he understood that a coup meant the forceful military overthrow of a government, but claimed he did not report the alleged discussions because he did not know who to approach.

He also narrated how he eventually came under investigation after discovering restrictions had been placed on his bank account while trying to withdraw part of the funds allegedly sent for prayers.

According to him, he contacted an official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and later honoured an invitation to explain the origin of the money.

The cleric maintained that he was neither tortured nor intimidated during interrogation and insisted his statement was made voluntarily.

The Federal Government had earlier arraigned six defendants over allegations bordering on treason, terrorism, money laundering and conspiracy to overthrow the government.

The defendants include retired Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Navy Capt. Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, police inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Presidential Villa electrician Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Sheikh Sani.

All six defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following the playback of the video, prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) sought to tender several extra-judicial statements allegedly obtained from the defendants by military investigators and a Special Investigation Panel.

However, defence lawyers strongly opposed the move, arguing that the statements and video recordings were obtained in violation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and the Anti-Torture Act.

The defence alleged that some of the defendants were denied access to legal representation, pressured into making statements and subjected to inducement during interrogation.

One lawyer also argued that parts of the written statements differed from what was captured in the video evidence presented before the court.

The prosecution, however, urged the court to dismiss the objections and proceed with a trial-within-trial to determine whether the statements were voluntarily made.

In a brief ruling, Justice Abdulmalik ordered a joint trial-within-trial for all six defendants to determine the admissibility of both the written statements and the video recordings.

The matter was adjourned until May 12 for further proceedings.