Two suspects admit knowledge of ‘coup plot’ against Tinubu in video evidence
Video recordings of investigators’ interviews with three of six defendants standing trial over an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu were played at a federal high court in Abuja on Monday.
In the recordings, two defendants, Erasmus Victor, a retired navy captain, and Ahmed Ibrahim, a police inspector, admitted they were aware of the alleged plot. Mohammed Gana, a retired major-general and the third defendant, denied any knowledge of the plan.
The video evidence was contained in a hard drive tendered by the prosecution.
Counsel to the defendants objected to the admissibility of the recordings, arguing that the statements were not made voluntarily.
They also opposed the playing of the videos in open court on the grounds that they had not been admitted in evidence.
However, Joyce Abdulmalik, the presiding judge, overruled the objections and directed that the recordings be played.
Abdulmalik said the objections had been noted, adding that the court would conduct a trial- within-trial to determine whether the statements were made voluntarily.
In the interview, Gana said he retired from the Nigerian Army in 2010 as chief of defence logistics and had since lived a quiet life.
Gana admitted knowing the alleged mastermind, M.A. Ma’aji, a colonel, but said he was unaware of any plan to overthrow the government.
“If I knew about any coup plan, I would have reported it,” he said.
Gana said his name came up during the investigation in relation to a N2 million transfer linked to him.
The retired army officer also admitted sharing, via WhatsApp, a coup speech delivered by Joshua Dongayaro during a previous military takeover, as well as messages containing anti-government rhetoric.
However, Gana said he merely forwarded the materials and did not originate them.
He denied conducting surveillance at the Presidential Villa or participating in any funding arrangement for the alleged plot.
Victor, the second defendant, admitted knowing of discussions about overthrowing the government but said he advised against it. He said Ma’aji was angry over his delayed promotion.
“Out of anger, he said he wants to overthrow the system. I told him to forget about it and consider retirement,” he said.
Victor said he was approached to provide financial support and help secure accommodation for the alleged plotters, with a promise of an appointment if the plan succeeded.
Victor said he declined to be involved but continued communicating with the principal suspect through a secure messaging platform, using coded language.
“My relationship with him clouded my thoughts. If not, I would have reported to the appropriate authorities,” he said.
He expressed regret for failing to report the alleged plot.
“I feel so bad that I find myself in this situation,” he said, appealing for clemency.
Ibrahim, a police inspector attached to the State House, said he was initially approached to assist in facilitating Ma’aji’s promotion.
He said their discussions later shifted to an alleged plan to overthrow the government.
Ibrahim admitted receiving between N1.4 million and N1.5 million and conducting reconnaissance around the Presidential Villa, including Aguda House.
He said he took photographs of parts of the villa and discussed possible access routes.
He also confirmed that coded terms such as “fertiliser” and “farming” were used to refer to funding and the alleged operation.
However, he said he did not take the plan seriously.
“I played along because I knew it would be impossible for them to access the State House,” he said.
According to the prosecution, investigators had informed the defendants at the start of each session that the interviews were being recorded in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
They were also told of their right to remain silent and that the recordings were to ensure the statements were made voluntarily.
The case was adjourned until Tuesday at 11am for continuation of the hearing.
The federal government, through the office of the attorney-general of the federation, is prosecuting six suspects over an alleged plot to topple Tinubu’s administration.
The other defendants in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026 are Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.
They were arraigned on 13 counts before the court on April 22.
