An Islamic cleric on trial over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that he cautioned the conspirators their mission would fail.
Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir made the revelation in a video-recorded testimony played before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik. In the recording, the cleric explained how he became entangled in the alleged scheme through an associate named Sanda, who approached him on behalf of a senior military officer, said to be Colonel Maaji, seeking spiritual guidance and prayers for the planned takeover.
After conducting prayers and consultations, Abdulkadir said he warned that the operation was doomed, predicting that insiders would eventually leak details of the plot. He claimed a subsequent request was made for additional prayers to prevent betrayal among the alleged conspirators.
The cleric told investigators that money was later transferred to him for prayer sessions and charitable purposes, adding that names of those involved were provided for mention during prayers. Suspicion grew, he said, after Sanda informed him that Colonel Maaji had gone missing for days, followed by media reports of arrests linked to the alleged coup plot.
Abdulkadir denied using the funds to support any unconstitutional act, insisting the money was strictly for religious activities. He admitted knowing that a coup referred to the military’s forceful overthrow of a government but said he did not alert security agencies because he was unsure whom to approach.
He recounted being arrested after discovering his bank account had been restricted while trying to withdraw part of the funds. Following a call to an official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), he honoured an invitation and clarified the source of the money. He maintained he was neither tortured nor intimidated, insisting his statement was voluntary.
After the video was played, prosecutors sought to tender extra-judicial statements obtained from the six defendants by military investigators and a special panel. Defence lawyers opposed the move, arguing that the statements and video recordings were obtained contrary to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). They alleged some defendants were denied legal representation, pressured into making statements, or subjected to inducements, with one lawyer noting discrepancies between the written statements and the video evidence.
The prosecution urged the court to dismiss the objections and hold a single trial-within-trial to determine whether the disputed statements were voluntary. Justice Abdulmalik ordered a joint trial-within-trial for all six defendants to assess the admissibility of both the written statements and video recordings.
The matter was adjourned until 12 May for further proceedings.
