Coup plotters reached out for spiritual cover — Cleric

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday watched a video recording in which an Islamic cleric, standing trial over the coup plot, told investigators that he warned the suspected conspirators that their plan would fail and that they would eventually be betrayed. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik also ordered a joint trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness of statements and video recordings the prosecution sought to tender against the six defendants.

The ruling followed objections by defence lawyers, who argued that the statements were obtained in violation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and the Anti-Torture Act. the Nigerian government had on April 22 arraigned six defendants, including a retired major-general, over allegations of treason, terrorism, money laundering and conspiracy to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government. The defendants are Maj-Gen Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (retd.); Navy Capt Erasmus Ochegobia Victor (retd.)

Police inspector Ahmed Ibrahim; Presidential Villa electrician Zekeri Umoru; Bukar Kashim Goni; and a Zaria-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abdulkadir Sani. They all pleaded not guilty to the 13 charges. At Monday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), informed the court that the fourth prosecution witness remained in the witness box and applied for the playback of a video recording containing the alleged statement of the sixth defendant, Sani.

In the video played in open court, Sani showed he knew the alleged ringleader, Col Maaji, for less than one year and was introduced to him through a man identified as Sanda. The cleric showed Sanda approached him for prayers concerning a planned coup and informed him that his “oga” needed spiritual guidance and divination over the success of the operation. based on Sani, after conducting prayers, he informed them that the operation would fail. “I warned them the coup would fail,” he showed in the recording.