A defendant in the ongoing alleged coup plot trial against President Bola Tinubu’s administration has told the court he was misled into involvement by other suspects, insisting he had no knowledge of any plan to overthrow the government.
Zekari Umoru, the fourth defendant, made the claim in a recorded extra-judicial statement played on Tuesday before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Umoru, an employee of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc assigned to maintenance duties at the Presidential Villa, said his involvement began innocently after he was introduced to key figures in the case by the third defendant, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim.
According to him, Ibrahim linked him to a man identified as Hassan Mohammed, whom he later came to know as “Col. Mohammed Ma’aji,” under the guise of offering electrical contract work.
“I believed he was a businessman because the payments I received carried his name,” Umoru said in the video evidence.
He told investigators that he received several cash payments from Ma’aji, sometimes in Ibrahim’s presence, including sums handed out during social meetings. One such encounter at a location known as “Tiger Bar,” he said, involved cash gifts of between ₦100,000 and ₦120,000 after drinks and casual conversations.
Umoru also recounted a major cash transfer on September 24, 2025, when he was allegedly handed a bag filled with money. “I took the money to Zenith Bank, and it was counted as ₦8.8 million,” he stated. He added that the following day, another ₦2 million was given, with assurances that further instructions would come through Ibrahim.
Despite the steady flow of funds, Umoru said he began to grow uneasy and sought clarification. He claimed Ibrahim told him Ma’aji was unhappy with the country’s situation and intended to “sanitise the government.”
“He mentioned something about working with some ‘boys’ and even talked about using an ambulance driver to gain access into the Villa,” Umoru said.
However, he insisted he never understood this to mean a coup plot. “I was not aware of any concrete plan to overthrow the government. If I had known, I would have stayed away,” he said, adding that he felt deceived.
The defendant also described escorting another associate, Usman, into the Presidential Villa without difficulty. He said security personnel allowed entry after he identified the visitor as someone there to see him. He later became suspicious when Usman began taking photographs in his office. “I cautioned him immediately and told him to stop,” he said.
Umoru maintained throughout his statement that his actions were not deliberate, apologising to his employers and pledging loyalty to the government. “I regret everything that has happened. I support the administration and would never knowingly be part of such acts,” he said.
In a separate video shown in court, an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Imam Kassim Goni, also denied any role in the alleged plot. He said funds he received from Ma’aji were strictly for religious purposes.
“All the money given to me was for prayers and charity,” Goni said, explaining that he had been approached for spiritual support following claims of stalled career advancement.
However, investigators highlighted inconsistencies in his account, pointing to financial records showing transactions dating back to March 2023—months before the issues he referenced. They also cited transfers amounting to millions of naira, including a ₦10 million payment in October 2024.
According to the prosecution, conversations captured in the video evidence—particularly references to access routes and “work tools”—suggest a broader and coordinated scheme.
Counsel to the fifth defendant, Michael Numa, SAN, told the court he had only just received the video evidence and requested time to review it.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the trial to May 11, 12, and 13 for continuation.
The defendants are facing a 13-count charge filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, through Director of Public Prosecutions Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.
Those standing trial include retired Major-General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor (rtd), Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekari Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.
Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who is also named in the case, remains at large.
The charges against the defendants include treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence, and money laundering linked to alleged terrorism financing.
