A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday viewed another video recording tendered by the prosecution in the ongoing trial of six persons accused of plotting to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The video showed Zekeri Umoru, the fourth defendant, being questioned by members of the Special Investigative Panel, SIP, which initially investigated the alleged coup plot.
Umoru, who said he worked with Julius Berger on the Presidential Villa clinic project, alleged in the video that Colonel Mohammed A. Ma’aji, described as the alleged mastermind of the plot, offered him money through the third defendant, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, to recruit between 18 and 19 persons working inside the Villa.
According to him, those to be recruited included soldiers, officials of the Department of State Services, DSS, and Julius Berger staff.
He further claimed that discussions were held on a plan to switch off electricity within the Presidential Villa to aid the alleged operation.
Umoru said he warned that any attempt to switch off power within the Villa would immediately trigger investigations and lead to the detention of workers on duty that day.
He also told investigators that Ma’aji allegedly said he wanted access into the Presidential Villa and could achieve it “with force” even if those recruited from inside refused to cooperate.
The defendant claimed that Inspector Ibrahim later demanded ₦100 million from Ma’aji to facilitate access into the Villa through an ambulance route, but Ma’aji allegedly rejected the amount as excessive.
According to Umoru, Ma’aji insisted that he could still force his way into the Villa, though “there would be bloodshed.”
Umoru said he later became uncomfortable with the alleged plan and repeatedly attempted to return the money given to him, stressing that access to the Presidential Villa “was not child’s play.”
He denied having access to the Villa’s solar power plant, despite allegations that he planned to sabotage electricity supply within the complex.
When asked why he did not immediately report the alleged discussions to authorities, Umoru claimed that Inspector Ibrahim discouraged him and allegedly asked him to delete messages and avoid contacting Ma’aji because of an ongoing audit in their office.
After the video was played, the trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, adjourned the matter until May 21 for continuation of the trial-within-trial, which is being conducted to determine whether the statements made by the six defendants were voluntary.