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By John Azu
One of the six persons facing trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja, for alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu, Zekeri Umoru, has denied any knowledge of the plan.
Those who were arraigned before the court on April 22 include former Governor of Bayelsa State Timipreye Silva, who is said to be at large; Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (retired); retired Navy Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.
In the charges read out to them, the defendants had, sometime in 2025, conspired with one another to levy war against the state to overtake the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is against the provision of Section 37(2) of the code cap 38 LFN 2004.
In a video replay of his statement in court on Tuesday, Umoru testified that his involvement was after Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, attached to the Presidential Clinic in the Villa, introduced one “businessman” identified as Hassan Mohammed, whom he later discovered was Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji.
Umoru, who is a staff of Julius Berger Nigeria attached to the maintenance department of the Presidential Villa, recalled how he allegedly received several cash payments from Ma’aji during meetings attended by Ibrahim and another associate identified as Usman.
He told investigators that during one gathering at one Tiger Bar, Ma’aji allegedly handed him and his associates between N100,000 and N120,000 after buying drinks and asking about their professions.
Umoru further stated that on September 24, 2025, Ma’aji allegedly handed him a “Ghana Must Go” bag containing cash, which he deposited at the Zenith Bank branch where it was counted and found to be N8.8 million with another N2m the next day in the presence of Inspector Ibrahim.
The defendant said he later became uncomfortable with the repeated cash payments and demanded an explanation from Ibrahim.
He alleged that Ibrahim told him Ma’aji was unhappy with the state of the country and planned to “sanitize the government” with support from unnamed associates described as “boys.”
However, Umoru repeatedly claimed ub the video that he was misled into believing Ma’aji was a civillian businessman.
The defendant also admitted escorting Usman into the Presidential Villa, stating that security officials allowed the visitor entry after he indicated the man was there to see him.
He added that he later saw Usman “taking photographs” in his office and warned him against it.
Umoru expressed regret during the interview, apologising to his employers and affirming support for President Tinubu’s administration.
The court also viewed another video involving Islamic cleric, Sheikh Imam Goni, who denied involvement in the alleged coup plot.
Goni told investigators that monies he received from Ma’aji were strictly for “prayers and charitable purposes,” including spiritual interventions connected to alleged promotion setbacks.
However, investigators pointed to financial records allegedly showing transfers running into millions of naira, including a “N10m transfer” in October 2024, which they said contradicted aspects of his explanation.
On Monday, the court also played back separate videos where the other defendants allegedly admitted to coded communications, meetings and reconnaissance around the Presidential Villa, but denied participating in any concrete plan to overthrow the government.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik has adjourned the matter to May 11, 12 and 13 for more hearing.