‘I told them it would fail’ — Cleric tells court about his knowledge of coup plot
Sani Abdulkadir, the sixth defendant in the ongoing trial of alleged coup plotters against the government of President Bola Tinubu, says he warned the suspects that their plan would fail.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, Abdulkadir spoke on Monday during the resumed hearing of the case at the federal high court in Abuja.
Abdulkadir, who spoke in a video recording played in court, admitted receiving money to pray for the success of the operation but added that he warned the alleged coup plotters that they would be sabotaged from within.
In the recording, Abdulkadir, an Islamic cleric, said he had known Maaji, the alleged ringleader, for less than a year and was approached through an intermediary identified as Sanda to offer spiritual support for the plot.
He said Sanda informed him that his “Oga” intended to stage a coup and needed prayers regarding its likely success.
After conducting the prayers, Abdulkadir said he told them the operation would fail as two persons would eventually expose those involved.
He said the suspects, however, sent him another request asking for further prayers to prevent the two individuals from speaking out.
Zagazola reported that money was later transferred to the cleric for prayers and charity, while names of alleged participants were forwarded for inclusion.
Abdulkadir said he first learnt of the arrests through media reports after Sanda informed him that Maaji had been unreachable for four days.
He said the funds received were strictly for prayers and not in support of any coup attempt.
The cleric also acknowledged that he understood a coup meant a military overthrow of government but said he did not report the plot because he did not know whom to report to.
According to him, he was arrested after visiting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to resolve restrictions placed on his bank account.
He was invited to the commission’s office to explain the source of the funds.
Abdulkadir denied making any coup-related statement while in EFCC custody, adding that he was neither assaulted nor tortured, adding that all his statements were made voluntarily.
Following the playback, the prosecution sought to tender extrajudicial statements made by all six defendants before a special investigation panel and military police authorities.
However, defence lawyers for the six defendants objected, arguing that the statements were either obtained involuntarily or made in violation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Their objections included failure to inform the defendants of their right to legal representation; alleged discrepancies between video recordings and corresponding written statements; allegations of coercion, inducement and torture; and claims that the footage did not adequately establish the physical condition of the defendants during recording.
Counsel to the fifth defendant further argued that, given the number of accused persons, the court should conduct separate trial-within-trial proceedings for each disputed statement rather than a combined exercise.
Responding, the prosecution urged the court to dismiss the objections, maintaining that the law does not mandate separate proceedings for each defendant and that the trial judge has the discretion to determine how evidence is received.
Joyce Abdulmalik, the presiding judge, ruled in favour of a single joint trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness and admissibility of all the disputed statements.
The case was adjourned to May 12.
BACKGROUND
On April 22, the federal government arraigned six suspects over allegations of plotting a coup to oust President Tinubu.
The suspects were arraigned on a 13-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism. They all pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The defendants in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026 include Mohammed Gana; Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, a retired navy captain; Ahmed Ibrahim, a serving police inspector; Zekeri Umoru; Bukar Kashim Goni; and Abdulkadir.
Timipre Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa, was mentioned in the charge; he is said to be at large.
The defendants are accused of waging a war against Nigeria and committing acts bordering on treason and terrorism.
