One of the defendants in the ongoing trial over an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of Bola Tinubu, Zekeri Umoru, on Tuesday told a Federal High Court in Abuja that he was deceived by co-suspects into actions now under investigation.
Umoru, an employee of Julius Berger Nigeria attached to the Maintenance Department at the Presidential Villa, made the claim in a video-recorded statement presented before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
The defendant, who is standing trial alongside five others, narrated how his involvement began in May 2025 after he was introduced to a man later identified as Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji by a police officer, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim.
According to Umoru, the introduction was made under the guise of offering him electrical work at a construction site.
He said he initially believed Ma’aji was a civilian contractor, especially after receiving payments bearing his name.
He told investigators that he received money on several occasions, sometimes in the presence of the police officer who introduced him.
He also recounted meetings with Ma’aji and another associate identified as Usman, whom he later discovered to be a military officer.
Umoru further stated that during one of their meetings at a relaxation spot known as Tiger Bar, Ma’aji gave him and others cash gifts ranging from ₦100,000 to ₦120,000 after engaging them in casual discussions about their occupations.
A major transaction, he said, occurred on September 24, 2025, when he was handed a bag containing cash, which he later deposited in a Zenith Bank branch and discovered it amounted to ₦8.8 million.
He added that another ₦2 million was given the following day, with instructions that further details would be communicated to him through Ibrahim.
However, the defendant told the court that he began to grow uneasy over the steady inflow of money and sought clarification.
According to him, Ibrahim later hinted that Ma’aji was unhappy with the state of the country and intended to “sanitise the system,” allegedly with the support of unnamed associates.
Umoru also claimed that there were suggestions of using an ambulance driver to gain access into the Presidential Villa, with promises of financial reward.
Despite these revelations, he insisted that he was unaware of any concrete plan to overthrow the government, maintaining that his involvement was unintentional.
He recounted an incident where he accompanied one of the suspects into the Presidential Villa, stating that security personnel allowed entry after he identified the visitor as his guest. He said he later cautioned the individual after noticing him taking photographs within his office.
The defendant maintained throughout his statement that he had no knowledge of any coup plot and would have distanced himself had he known the true identity or intentions of the principal suspect.
He also expressed remorse, apologised to his employers, and reaffirmed his loyalty to the government.
In a related development, another video evidence presented in court featured an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Bukar Kashim Goni, who denied involvement in the alleged plot.
He insisted that funds he received from Ma’aji were strictly for prayers and charitable activities.
However, investigators pointed to financial records showing transactions running into millions of naira, including a ₦10 million transfer, as well as conversations suggesting discussions about access and acquisition of “work tools.”
Counsel to the cleric, Michael Numa (SAN), told the court he needed time to review the video evidence.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the case to May 11, 12 and 13 for continuation of hearing.
The Federal Government had arraigned the defendants on a 13-count charge bordering on treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence, and alleged financing of unlawful activities.
Among those listed in the charge is former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who is said to be at large.