The Federal Government on Monday played video evidence before the Federal High Court in Abuja in its bid to establish an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu through a coup d’état.
The video recordings, tendered by the prosecution in the case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026, showed some of the defendants explaining their alleged roles in the plot during interrogation by investigators.
Those standing trial include retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, serving Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, as well as Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.
Also mentioned in the charge filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation was former Bayelsa State governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who prosecutors alleged fled the country before the alleged plot was uncovered and is currently at large.
The defendants are facing charges bordering on treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence, and money laundering in furtherance of terrorist acts.
At the resumed hearing, the prosecution played a video in which retired Naval Captain Victor and Inspector Ibrahim allegedly admitted they were aware of plans to overthrow the government, while retired Maj. Gen. Gana denied any knowledge of the alleged conspiracy.
In the footage, Gana told investigators he retired from the Nigerian Army in 2010 as Chief of Defence Logistics and had since maintained a quiet life. He insisted he had never been involved in any criminal activity but acknowledged knowing the alleged coordinator of the plot, Colonel M.A. Ma’aji.
Gana said he was aware Ma’aji had grievances over his promotion but denied knowing he was planning a coup, maintaining that he would have reported such information if he had been aware.
He further explained that investigators linked him to the alleged plot after tracing a N2 million transfer to him. He admitted forwarding via WhatsApp a copy of a speech read by Joshua Dongayaro during an earlier coup, as well as anti-government messages, but insisted he neither authored nor edited the materials.
The retired general also denied allegations that he conducted reconnaissance at the Presidential Villa or participated in efforts to source funds, including claims of securing financial backing from a former governor.
In his own statement shown in court, Victor admitted knowing Colonel Ma’aji and being aware of the alleged plan to overthrow the government, but said he failed to report it because of their personal relationship.
He told investigators that Ma’aji, frustrated over a stalled promotion, had expressed anger and a desire to “overthrow the system,” adding that he advised him against such action and suggested retirement instead.
Victor also admitted he was approached to provide financial support, help secure accommodation, and assist in raising funds for the operation, with promises of an appointment if the plot succeeded, but insisted he declined all requests.
He acknowledged maintaining communication with the alleged mastermind through a secure messaging platform and confirmed that coded language was used in their conversations.
Expressing regret, Victor pleaded for clemency, saying he found himself “in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Inspector Ibrahim, who is attached to the State House, told investigators he was initially approached to help facilitate Ma’aji’s promotion through contacts in government circles, but that discussions later shifted to plans to overthrow the government.
He admitted receiving between N1.4 million and N1.5 million and participating in reconnaissance around the Presidential Villa, including Aguda House.
According to his statement, he took photographs of sections of the Presidential Villa, including the President’s residence and surrounding terrain, while also discussing possible access routes.
Ibrahim further revealed that coded terms such as “fertiliser” and “farming” were allegedly used to refer to funding and the planned operation, though he maintained he merely played along because he believed the suspects could never gain access to the State House.
Earlier in the proceedings, defence counsel challenged the admissibility of the video evidence, arguing that the statements were not voluntarily made.
However, trial judge Justice Joyce Abdulmalik dismissed attempts to stop the videos from being played in open court and ordered a trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness of the statements.
The matter was subsequently adjourned until Tuesday for further hearing.
The Federal Government alleged that the defendants, sometime in September 2025, conspired to levy war against the state and overawe the President, contrary to Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
The accused persons, who pleaded not guilty to the 13-count charge when they were arraigned on April 22, remain in the custody of the Department of State Services pending the determination of the case.
