Two of the six defendants standing trial over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have admitted that there was a plan to forcefully removed the administration led by Tinubu
Penpushing reports that the defendants made the admission in video recordings played at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) confessing that they knew about the alleged coup plot.
The recordings, contained in a hard drive presented by the prosecution, captured separate interview sessions with three defendants – Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, a retired Navy captain, Ahmed Ibrahim, a police inspector, and Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, a retired major-general.
Penpushing further reports that, Messrs Victor and Ibrahim in the footage admitted they were aware of the alleged plot but did not report it, while Gana denied any knowledge, however, the remaining defendants, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani, were not featured in the video playback.
The Nigerian government had filed 13 counts of treason, terrorism, failure to disclose information, and money laundering against the six defendants accused of being part of an alleged conspiracy to topple the Tinubu’s administration.
Penpushing also reports that their trial began on Wednesday, with the prosecution calling four witnesses, and three witnesses drawn from Jaiz Bank, SunTrust Bank, and Providus Bank tendered letters obtained from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and responses from their respective institutions.
The fourth witness, an army officer identified as by codename AAA for security reasons, told the court how investigators allegedly uncovered the plot and traced financial and operational links between the suspects.
Penpushing reports that led in evidence by prosecution lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), AAA said the defendants made statements before a special investigation panel and before the military police.
The prosecution lawyer explained that the statements were recorded on video and made voluntarily, and that all defendants except one appeared before the panel, and then applied to tender the video recordings as evidence on Monday.
Penpushing further report that, however, alongside other objections, lawyer to the second defendant, Paul Erokoro, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), objected to the document presented in support of the video recording and argued that it was not frontloaded.
The prosecution lawyer admitted during proceedings that it had not been frontloaded when the judge, Jouce Abdulmalik, asked, and this prompted the judge to order him to comply with procedural requirements and adjourned the matter until Monday, May 4, 2026.
Penpushing further reports that at the Monday’s proceedings, the court gave permission to the prosecution to play video recordings of interviews, while in his session the retired Navy captain, Victor said he knew the alleged mastermind, M. A. Ma’aji, a serving colonel, and was aware of discussions about overthrowing the government.
The retired Navy Captain said the officer complained about stalled promotion and expressed anger at the system, adding that he advised him against such a move, as he equally admitted he was asked to provide financial support, help raise funds, and assist in securing accommodation for the plotters, with a promise of an appointment if the plan succeeded.
Penpushing also reports that Victor said he declined involvement but maintained communication through a secure messaging platform where coded language was used, adding that he did not take part in any operation.
The alleged coupist admitted he failed to report the plot due to his relationship with the principal suspect and expressed regrets, while Ibrahim, a police inspector attached to the State House, said he was first approached to help facilitate the officer’s promotion, adding that discussions later shifted to plans to overthrow the government.
Penpushing reports that he admitted receiving between N1.4 million and N1.5 million and taking part in reconnaissance around the Presidential Villa, including Aguda House, explaining that he took photographs of parts of the villa and discussed possible access routes.
The police inspector confirmed that terms such as “fertiliser” and “farming” were used as code for funding and the operation, stating that his actions stemmed from poor judgment linked to his relationship with the suspect. He added that he did not believe the plan could succeed.
Penpushing further reports that Gana, however, denied any involvement, emphasizing that he retired from the Nigerian Army in 2010 and had lived a quiet life since then, admitting knowing Ma’aji and said he was aware that the officer had issues with promotion, but said he did not know of any coup plan and would have reported it if he did.
The alleged coupist equally said investigators linked him to a N2 million transfer, admitting forwarding a coup speech and some anti-government messages on WhatsApp but said he did not originate them, and denied taking part in reconnaissance or efforts to raise funds.
Penpushing also reports that at the start of each session, investigators told the defendants that the interviews were being recorded in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, explaining that the recordings were meant to ensure statements were made voluntarily without coercion, and equally informed the defendants of their right to remain silent.
The defence lawyers, however, maintained that the statements were not voluntary and argued that their clients did not make the statements voluntarily and opposed playing them before formal admission as evidence.
Penpushing reports that the trial judge allowed the videos to be played despite objections by defence lawyers, but Abdulmalik overruled the objections, stating that the court would conduct a trial-within-trial to determine whether the statements were voluntary, and thereafter, adjourned further hearing until Tuesday, May 5, 2026
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