Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled December 7 to rule on the admissibility of exhibits sought to be tendered by the Federal Government in the trial of six suspected coup plotters. The judge fixed the date after counsel for the prosecution and defense lawyers adopted their processes and presented their arguments. The Federal Government had arraigned the six defendants on April 22, 2026, on a 13-count charge, including treason, terrorism, and money laundering.
The defendants, including retired Major General Mohammed Gana, retired Navy Capt. Erasmus Victor, and Insp Ahmed Ibrahim, among others, are accused of offences linked to terrorism financing. The former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, alleged to be involved in the crime, is listed as being at large. The prosecution has called four witnesses, including a 4th prosecution witness who tendered video recordings of the defendants' interrogations before the trial-within-trial began.
The trial-within-trial was ordered by Justice Abdulmalik on May 11, 2026, after defense lawyers objected to the admissibility of the statements and video recordings, arguing they were not made voluntarily. The Federal Government closed its case in the trial-within-trial on June 23, 2026, after which the defendants began opening their defense. Following the conclusion of their defense, the judge fixed September 28 for the adoption of their written addresses.
One of the defendants, Zekeri Umoru, a Julius Berger Nigeria Plc employee, told the court that discussions were held on switching off electricity supply to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to aid the alleged coup. Umoru stated that he warned that such an action would trigger investigations and detention of workers on duty. He also alleged that Col. Mohammed Ma'aji, the alleged coup mastermind, offered him money to recruit persons working inside the Villa.
Umoru stated that those to be recruited included soldiers, officials of the Department of State Services, and Julius Berger maintenance staff. He alleged that Ma'aji wanted access into the Presidential Villa and could achieve it "with force" even if those recruited declined to cooperate. Another defendant, Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir, an Islamic cleric, stated in a video evidence that he warned his co-suspects that the plan would fail and that they would eventually be exposed.
Abdulkadir, a Zaria-based Imam, said he was informed about the plot and recruited to pray against the leakage of information about the activities of those behind it. The defendants are facing a 13-count charge filed by the Director, Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN. The charge includes offences ranging from treason and terrorism to failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering.
The court will rule on the admissibility of the exhibits on December 7, after which the trial will continue. The Federal Government's case against the suspected coup plotters has been ongoing since April 2026. The court's decision will determine the next course of action in the trial.
Key points
- The Federal High Court in Abuja will rule on the admissibility of exhibits in the trial of six suspected coup plotters on December 7.
- The defendants are facing a 13-count charge, including treason, terrorism, and money laundering.
- The trial has been ongoing since April 2026, with the prosecution calling four witnesses and tendering video recordings of the defendants' interrogations.
