The federal government on Monday played video evidence in court to establish the botched plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration through a coup d’état.
In the video recordings tendered by the FG before the Federal High Court in Abuja, some of the defendants on trial for masterminding the alleged coup plot were seen explaining their level of involvement to investigators.
The defendants in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026 are retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana; retired Naval Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor; serving Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim; and three others, including Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.
Former governor of Bayelsa State, who also served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, Timipre Sylva was also mentioned in the charge filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
The former governor is said to be at large after fleeing the country before the alleged coup plot was exposed.
The allegations against the defendants include treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence, and money laundering in furtherance of terrorist acts.
At the resumed proceedings on Monday, the prosecution played a video clip showing two of the defendants, retired Navy Captain Victor and Inspector Ibrahim (2nd and 3rd defendants), admitting that they were aware of the planned coup, while the 1st defendant, retired Maj. Gen. Gana denied knowledge of the plot.
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In the first part of the video, Maj. Gen. Gana said he retired from the Nigerian Army in 2010 as Chief of Defence Logistics and had since lived a quiet life.
Insisting he had never been involved in any act of indiscipline or crime, the 1st defendant told investigators that he knew the alleged coordinator of the plot, Colonel M. A. Ma’aji.
According to the retired Maj. Gen., he learnt that Ma’aji had issues with his promotion but did not know he was planning a coup, adding that if he had been aware, he would have reported it to the relevant authorities.
He noted that he was linked to the coup after investigators traced a N2 million transfer to him, even as he admitted sharing via WhatsApp a copy of a speech read by Joshua Dongayaro during an earlier coup in the country.
The defendant also admitted sharing, through the same means, messages containing anti-government rhetoric, but explained that he had only forwarded the materials as received and did not edit or originate them.
When investigators told him that the coup speech recovered from Colonel Ma’aji was tailored in line with the coup-related speeches he had forwarded, Maj. Gen. Gana (Rtd.) said he did not know.
He also denied allegations of conducting reconnaissance at the Presidential Villa or participating in efforts to raise funds, including claims of sourcing billions from a former governor.
The 2nd defendant, retired Captain Victor, admitted in the video to knowing Ma’aji and being aware of the plot to overthrow the government.
He said his failure to report the plot stemmed from his relationship with Ma’aji, explaining that Ma’aji had complained about his stalled promotion and “out of anger, said he wanted to overthrow the system.”
Victor said he advised against such an act and suggested that the officer consider retirement instead.
He also admitted that he was approached to provide financial support, assist in raising funds for the plot, or help acquire an apartment, with an assurance of being offered an appointment if the coup succeeded.
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The retired Navy captain said he declined involvement in the plan, although he admitted continuing communication with the mastermind via a secure messaging platform.
The defendant confirmed that coded language was used in all discussions, though he claimed he was not part of any operational arrangement and never rendered the assistance requested by Ma’aji.
He regretted that his relationship with Ma’aji had clouded his judgment, leading to his failure to report the plot to security agencies like the Navy, to which he belonged.
In the video, the remorseful 2nd defendant pleaded for clemency, likening his situation to “being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
He said, “I feel so bad that I find myself in this situation. I am pleading for clemency.”
