Defendant Claims Ignorance in Alleged Coup Plot Against President Tinubu
Abuja, Nigeria – One of the six men on trial for an alleged coup attempt against Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has denied any knowledge of the plot, claiming he was misled into believing he was dealing with a legitimate businessman.
Zekeri Umoru, a maintenance worker at the Presidential Villa employed by Julius Berger Nigeria, testified via a video recording played in court on Tuesday. He stated that he was introduced to Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji—the alleged mastermind of the foiled coup—by a co-defendant, police inspector Ahmed Ibrahim.
“I Was Misled,” Says Defendant
Umoru claimed he initially thought Ma’aji was a civilian businessman offering him electrical work. He admitted receiving multiple cash payments from Ma’aji, including a bag containing ₦8.8 million deposited in a Zenith Bank branch and another ₦2 million given the following day.
However, he later grew suspicious when Ibrahim revealed that Ma’aji was unhappy with Nigeria’s leadership and intended to “sanitize the government.” Despite this, Umoru insisted he had no prior knowledge of any coup plot.
“I was misled,” he said in the recording. “If I had known, I would have distanced myself.”
Islamic Cleric Denies Involvement
Another defendant, Islamic cleric Bukar Kashim Goni, also denied involvement in the alleged conspiracy. He claimed that money he received from Ma’aji was for prayers and charitable purposes. However, investigators presented financial records showing transfers totaling millions of naira, including ₦10 million in October 2024, contradicting his statements.
The Alleged Coup Plot
The case stems from an alleged September 2023 plot to overthrow President Tinubu. Prosecutors claim the conspirators planned to storm the Presidential Villa, detain top officials, and assassinate Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
Investigators say the group procured at least 32 vehicles—including SUVs and Volkswagen Golfs—for covert operations. Financial records, receipts, and transaction documents have been recovered as evidence.
Trial Proceedings
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, adjourned the case until May 11–13 for continuation. The defendants—including a retired army general, a navy captain, and a police inspector—pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of treason, terrorism, and money laundering.
The prosecution has presented video recordings of interrogations as key evidence. Defence lawyers requested more time to review the footage, while the prosecution pushed for an accelerated hearing.
Moment of Silence for Fallen Colleague
Proceedings were briefly paused after defence lawyers informed the court of the death of their colleague, U.H. Kamra, in a road accident. Justice Abdulmalik led a minute of silence in his honor before resuming the trial.
As the case unfolds, Nigerians await further revelations in what has been described as one of the most serious threats to the country’s democracy in recent years.
— Reported by Nexio News
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