l warned that coup against Tinubu will fail – Cleric

A Zaria-based Islamic cleric, Sani Abdulkadir, who is among those standing trial over an alleged coup plot against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, claimed he warned the alleged plotters that their plan would fail because it would be sabotaged from within. In a video-recorded statement, the cleric, identified as the sixth defendant in the ongoing trial […]

A Zaria-based Islamic cleric, Sani Abdulkadir, who is among those standing trial over an alleged coup plot against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, claimed he warned the alleged plotters that their plan would fail because it would be sabotaged from within.
In a video-recorded statement, the cleric, identified as the sixth defendant in the ongoing trial of persons accused of conspiring to overthrow the government, also admitted receiving money to pray for the success of the operation.
The video recording was played on Monday during the continuation of proceedings at a Federal High Court in Abuja.
In the recording, Abdulkadir said he had known the alleged ringleader, Colonel Ma’aji for less than a year and was approached through an intermediary identified as Sanda to offer spiritual support for the plot.
He told investigators that Sanda informed him that his “Oga” intended to stage a coup and needed prayers regarding its likely success.
After conducting the prayers, Abdulkadir said he advised them that the operation would fail and that two persons would eventually expose those involved.
A subsequent request was relayed back to him, he said, asking for further prayers to prevent the two individuals from speaking out.
Money was later transferred to him for prayers and charity, and the names of alleged participants were forwarded for inclusion.
Abdulkadir said he first learnt of the arrests through media reports, after Sanda had informed him that Colonel Ma’aji had been unreachable for four days.
He maintained throughout the recording that the funds he received were strictly for prayers and not in support of any coup attempt.
Following the playback, the prosecution sought to tender extra-judicial statements made by all six defendants before a Special Investigation Panel and military police authorities.
However, defence counsel of all six defendants objected, arguing the statements were either involuntarily obtained or made in violation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Their objections include failure to inform defendants of their right to legal representation; alleged discrepancies between video recordings and corresponding written statements; allegations of coercion, inducement and torture; and claims that the footage did not adequately establish the physical condition of defendants during recording.
Counsel to the fifth defendant further argued that, given the number of accused persons, the court should conduct separate trial-within-trial proceedings for each disputed statement rather than a combined exercise.
Responding, the prosecution urged the court to dismiss the objections, maintaining that the law does not mandate separate proceedings for each defendant and that the trial judge holds discretion over how evidence is received.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled in favour of a single joint trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness and admissibility of all the disputed statements.
The case was then adjourned to May 12.