Court to rule on admissibility of FG’s exhibits against suspected coup plotters Dec 7

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik has scheduled December 7 for the Federal High Court in Abuja to decide on the admissibility of the Federal Government's exhibits in the trial of six suspected coup plotters. The judge made the decision after both the prosecution and defense attorneys presented their arguments regarding the application. The Federal Government introduced the charges on April 22, 2026, via the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The six defendants are retired Major General Mohammed Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Victor, Insp Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, filed the 13-count charge under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026. One of the defendants, Timipre Sylva, the former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, remains at large.

The charges include various offenses such as treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence, and money laundering linked to terrorism financing. In May 2026, Justice Abdulmalik ordered a trial-within-trial after the defense lawyers raised concerns about the admissibility of certain statements and video recordings presented by the prosecution.

The prosecution called four witnesses, one of whom, an army officer codenamed "AAA," has yet to be dismissed from the witness stand. The prosecution concluded its case on June 23, 2026, and the defendants then commenced their defense. The trial resumed on Wednesday, with the judge setting the date for the defendants to submit their written addresses.

Zekeri Umoru, the fourth defendant, claimed in a video recording that discussions took place to switch off the electricity supply to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to further the alleged coup. He also accused Colonel Mohammed Ma'aji, allegedly the mastermind behind the coup, of offering him money through Insp Ahmed Ibrahim to recruit individuals to assist in the plot, including soldiers, Department of State Services officials, and Julius Berger maintenance staff.

Umoru stated that Ma'aji allegedly threatened to execute the plan "with force" if those recruited from inside the Villa refused to cooperate. Additionally, Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir, the sixth defendant, stated in the video that he had warned his co-suspects that the plan would fail and that they would be exposed.