By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The fourth defendant in the alleged coup plot trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Zekeri Umoru, has denied knowledge of any plan to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government.
In a recorded video statement previewed by the court on Tuesday, May 5, Umoru insisted that he was “misled” into joining the alleged coup plotting.
The video recording was previewed by the court as part of the prosecution’s evidence against the six defendants standing trial over the alleged coup plot.
Umoru, an employee in the maintenance department of the Presidential Villa working with Julius Berger Nigeria, stated that he first came in contact with persons linked to the case through the third defendant, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, attached to the Presidential Clinic.
He said Ibrahim introduced him to a man identified as Hassan Mohammed, whom he later discovered was Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji.
Umoru told investigators that he initially believed Ma’aji was “a civilian businessman” interested in offering him electrical work at a building under construction.
He recounted how he allegedly received several cash payments from Ma’aji during meetings attended by Ibrahim and another associate identified as Usman.
The defendant told investigators that during one gathering at one Tiger Bar, Ma’aji allegedly gave “between N100,000 and N120,000” to him and his associates 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.
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According to him, he deposited the money at a Zenith Bank branch where it was counted and found to be N8.8 million.
He added that another N2 million was allegedly given the following day during a separate meeting involving Inspector Ibrahim.
Umoru 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 “sanitise the government” with support from unnamed associates described as “boys.”
The defendant further claimed that Ibrahim spoke about involving “an ambulance driver” to facilitate access into the Presidential Villa, with expectations of financial reward.
Umoru repeatedly denied knowledge of any coup plot, saying in the video, “I was misled.”
He insisted 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 admitted that he escorted 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.
The defendant said he regretted his action during the interview, apologising to his employers and affirming support for Tinubu’s administration.
The court also viewed another video involving an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Imam Kassim Goni, who denied involvement in the alleged coup plot.
Goni told investigators that the money he received from Ma’aji was 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 “N10 million transfer” in October 2024, which they said contradicted aspects of his explanation.
After the preview of the video statement, counsel for the sixth defendant and senior counsel, Michael Numa, told the court he had just received the video exhibits of his client, adding that he needed more time to go through the exhibits.
While defence counsel argued for the case to be adjourned to a further date, prosecution counsel and Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, urged the court to stand by its earlier order for accelerated hearing of the case.
The trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, subsequently adjourned the matter till May 11, 12, and 13 for continuation of the trial.
