A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday played a video recording containing the alleged confession of an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir, who is standing trial alongside others accused of plotting to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
In the video presented before the court, Abdulkadir, identified as the sixth defendant in the case, claimed he warned the alleged coup plotters that their mission would fail and that some members would eventually betray the group.
The recording was tendered during the continuation of proceedings before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, while the fourth prosecution witness, identified as PW4, remained in the witness box.
In his statement, the cleric said he became acquainted with the alleged mastermind, identified as Colonel Ma’aji, less than a year ago through a man named Sanda.
According to him, Sanda approached him for spiritual prayers and divination on behalf of his “oga,” who allegedly intended to stage a coup.
Abdulkadir said after conducting prayers, he informed them that the operation would not succeed and warned that two individuals involved would eventually expose the group.
He further disclosed that Sanda later returned with a request for additional prayers to prevent the alleged betrayal from occurring.
The defendant also stated that money was transferred to him for prayers and charitable activities, while names of persons allegedly linked to the plot were forwarded to him for inclusion in the prayers.
According to the cleric, he later learnt through media reports that arrests had been made in connection with an alleged coup attempt after Sanda informed him that Colonel Ma’aji had gone missing for several days.
Abdulkadir maintained in the video that the money sent to him was strictly for spiritual purposes and not compensation for supporting any unconstitutional act.
He admitted understanding that a coup referred to the forceful overthrow of a government but said he did not report the alleged discussions because he did not know the appropriate authority to contact.
The cleric further narrated that he was eventually arrested after visiting the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over restrictions placed on his bank account.
According to him, he had attempted to withdraw part of the transferred funds when he discovered the account had been flagged.
He said he later contacted a deputy director at the commission and was invited for questioning, where he explained that the funds were linked to prayers.
Abdulkadir also insisted that he never discussed any coup-related matter while in the custody of the EFCC and added that he was neither assaulted nor tortured during interrogation.
Following the presentation of the video, the prosecution sought to tender extra-judicial statements allegedly made by the first to fifth defendants before military police investigators and a Special Investigation Panel, alongside the sixth defendant’s statement.
However, lawyers representing the six defendants separately opposed the admissibility of the statements and accompanying video recordings.
The defence counsel argued that the statements were either obtained involuntarily or recorded in breach of provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
Some of the lawyers claimed their clients were denied access to legal representation during interrogation, while others alleged coercion, inducement and torture.
Counsel to one of the defendants further argued that the video recordings did not correspond with the written statements presented before the court.
The prosecution, however, urged the court to dismiss the objections and requested a single trial-within-trial proceeding to determine the admissibility of all disputed statements.
Delivering a ruling, Justice Abdulmalik ordered a joint trial-within-trial to determine whether the written and video statements of the six defendants were voluntarily made and admissible in evidence.
The case was adjourned until May 12, 2026, for continuation of proceedings.