By TAIYE AGBAJE

Zekari Umoru, one of the defendants in the ongoing trial of six persons allegedly involved in the plotting of a coup against President Bola Tinubu’s government, on Tuesday said he was deceived by co-suspects.

Umoru, a Julius Berger Nigeria Plc employee in the Maintenance Department, Presidential Villa, Abuja, spoke in a video evidence played before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Umoru is the 4th defendant in the alleged treasonable charge.

In the video recordings of his extra-judicial statement, Umoru narrated how his contact with individuals later identified as key figures in the case began in May 2025, through the 3rd defendant, Insp Ahmed Ibrahim, also attached to the Presidential Clinic.

He told investigators that Ibrahim introduced him to a man called, Hassan Mohammed, who he later identified as “Col. Mohammed Ma’aji,” under the pretext of offering him electrical work at a building under construction.

Umoru said he initially took Ma’aji for a civilian businessman after receiving money transfers bearing his name.

He recounted multiple instances where he received money from Ma’aji, sometimes in the presence of Ibrahim.

The 4th defendant also described several visits by Ma’aji and another associate, Usman, who he later discovered to be a military personnel.

He told the court that during one of the meetings at a location identified as “Tiger Bar,” Ma’aji gave money ranging between ₦100, 000 and ₦120, 000 to him and his associates after buying drinks and making inquiries about their professions.

A more significant transaction, according to the video evidence, occurred on Sept. 24, 2025, when Ma’aji allegedly handed Umoru a “Ghana-Must-Go” bag containing cash.

The Julius Berger employee said he deposited the money at a branch of Zenith Bank, where it was counted as ₦8.8 million.

He further stated in the video recording that the following day, he and Ibrahim met Ma’aji again, during which an additional ₦2 million was given, with instructions that Ibrahim would later brief him on further details.

Umoru, however, told the investigators that he later became uncomfortable with the continuous flow of money and pressed Ibrahim for clarification.

According to him, Ibrahim claimed that Ma’aji was dissatisfied with the state of the country and was planning to “sanitise the government,” allegedly with the support of unnamed associates described as “boys.”

He further alleged that Ibrahim suggested a plan involving an ambulance driver to facilitate access into the Presidential Villa, with expectations of financial gain.

But Umoru maintained in the video that he was unaware of any concrete plan to overthrow the government and insisted that his participation was unintentional.

He also described an incident where he accompanied Usman into the Presidential Villa.

Umoru stated that security personnel at the gate did not question them after he told them that the visitor was there to see him.

He said he later found Usman taking photographs in his office and warned him against such actions.

He, however, denied knowledge of any coup plot throughout the video recording session, insisting that he was misled by Ibrahim.

He stated that he would have distanced himself from Ma’aji had he known he was a military officer or had any intention beyond business dealings.

Umoru also expressed regret, apologising to his employers and affirming his support for President Tinubu’s administration.

Another video recording involving an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Imam Kassim Goni, was also played in the open court.

Goni, in the video, said he relocated to Karu in Abuja after fleeing insurgency in Maiduguri in Borno.

The cleric denied any involvement in the coup plot.

He told the investigators that he received funds from Col. Maaji strictly for prayers and charitable purposes, including requests for spiritual intervention following his alleged setback in promotion.

He maintained that all cash received were tied to religious activities, not political or military objectives.

The investigators, however, pointed out discrepancies between his claims and financial records, indicating that funds had been transferred to him as early as March 2023—months before the alleged promotion issues he referenced.

The investigators also pointed out additional records showing transactions running into millions of naira, including a ₦10 million transfer in October 2024.

The investigators stated that discussions referenced in the videos, including remarks about gaining access and acquiring “work tools,” raised concerns about a broader scheme.

Meanwhile, counsel to the 5th defendant (Goni), Michael Numa, SAN, told the court that he just received the video exhibit of his client.

Numa said he would need more time to go through the exhibit.

Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter until May 11, May 12 and May 13 for continuation of trial.

The Federal Government, through the Office of the Attorney-General of Federation (AGF), had arraigned the defendants on 13-count charge before Justice Abdulmalik.

The charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026, was filed on April 20 by the Director, Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.

Those named in the charge are retired Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (rtd), Cap. (NN) Erasmus Ochegobia Victor (rtd), Insp Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani as 1st to 6th defendants respectfully.

The former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who is alleged to be part of the act, is listed as being at large.

The defendants were accused of offences ranging from treason and terrorism to failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing. (Text, excluding headline: NAN