Alleged Coup Trial: Cleric Says He Warned That The Plot Would Fail

*Admits he received money for ‘prayers’

By: Zagazola Makama

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, viewed a video- recorded statement by Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir, the sixth defendant in the ongoing trial of persons accused of conspiring to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu.

In the recording, the Sheikh, who admitted receiving money to pray for the success of the operation, however, claimed that he warned the alleged plotters that their plan was doomed and that they would be sabotaged from within.

The video recording was played during the continuation of trial proceedings, with the fourth prosecution witness (PW4) still in the witness box.

In the recording, Abdulkadir, an Islamic cleric, said he had known the alleged ringleader, Colonel Maaji, for less than a year and was approached through an intermediary identified as Sanda to offer spiritual support for the plot.

He told investigators that Sanda informed him that his “Oga” intended to stage a coup and needed prayers regarding its likely success. After conducting the prayers, Abdulkadir said he advised them the operation would fail and that two persons would eventually expose those involved.

A subsequent request was relayed back to him, he said, asking for further prayers to prevent those two individuals from speaking out. Money was later transferred to him for prayers and charity, and names of alleged participants were forwarded for inclusion.

Abdulkadir said he first learnt of the arrests through media reports, after Sanda had informed him that Colonel Maaji had been unreachable for four days. He maintained throughout the recording that the funds he received were strictly for prayers and not in support of any coup attempt.

He also acknowledged understanding that a coup meant a military overthrow of government but said he did not report the plot because he did not know who to report to.
The cleric said his arrest came after he visited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to resolve restrictions placed on his bank account.

Upon contacting an EFCC deputy director, he was invited to the commission’s office to explain the source of the funds. He denied making any coup-related statement while in EFCC custody and stated that he was neither assaulted nor tortured, and that all his statements were made voluntarily.

Following the playback, the prosecution sought to tender extra-judicial statements made by all six defendants before a Special Investigation Panel and military police authorities.

However, defence lawyers of all six defendants objected, arguing the statements were either involuntarily obtained or made in violation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

Their objections include failure to inform defendants of their right to legal representation; alleged discrepancies between video recordings and corresponding written statements; allegations of coercion, inducement and torture; and claims that the footage did not adequately establish the physical condition of defendants during recording.

Counsel to the fifth defendant further argued that, given the number of accused persons, the court should conduct separate trial-within-trial proceedings for each disputed statement rather than a combined exercise.

Responding, the prosecution urged the court to dismiss the objections, maintaining that the law does not mandate separate proceedings for each defendant and that the trial judge holds discretion over how evidence is received.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled in favour of a single joint trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness and admissibility of all the disputed statements.

The case was then adjourned to May 12.

Alleged Coup Trial: Cleric Says He Warned That The Plot Would Fail

Gov. Mutfwang Urges Responsible Reporting, Says Plateau Remains Safe for Visitors

By: Zagazola Manama

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has urged journalists and social media users to exercise restraint and professionalism in reporting security incidents in the state, warning that unverified reports and sensational narratives were damaging Plateau’s image.

The governor made the appeal during a stakeholders’ engagement in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area following recent security challenges in parts of the state.

Mutfwang said while the government remained committed to transparency and accurate documentation of security incidents, the spread of rumours and misleading reports on social media was negatively affecting public perception of Plateau State.

“I don’t want to suggest to anyone that any incident should be swept under the carpet. We keep accurate data of all accounts, but many people are in a hurry to put things on social media, and in the process, they are destroying the state,” the governor said.

He cautioned against publishing unverified information, noting that false reports often distort facts and create unnecessary panic among residents and outsiders.

According to him, there was a deliberate attempt by some individuals to portray Plateau State as unsafe and discourage tourism and investment in the state.

“There is a deliberate plan to de-market Plateau State and tell the world that Plateau is not a place anybody should visit. But let me reassure Nigerians and the international community that Plateau still remains the Home of Peace and Tourism. Nobody will take that away from us,” he stated.

The governor appealed to media practitioners to remain responsible in their reportage and support ongoing efforts aimed at restoring lasting peace and stability across affected communities.

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthening security operations, protecting lives and property, and creating an enabling environment for economic and tourism activities to thrive in the state.

Gov. Mutfwang Urges Responsible Reporting, Says Plateau Remains Safe for Visitors

NSCDC Cracks Down on Railway Vandals, Recovers Stolen Sleepers in Bauchi

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has dealt a major blow to a criminal syndicate involved in the vandalism and illegal movement of railway infrastructure following the arrest of two suspects and the recovery of a large quantity of stolen railway sleepers along the Bauchi-Kano corridor.

The operation, carried out by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS), was part of an intensified crackdown on economic saboteurs accused of targeting critical national assets across the country.

The suspects, identified as 65-year-old Alzuma Yakubu and 32-year-old Ismail Muhammad, were intercepted while transporting suspected vandalised railway materials in a Peugeot Boxer vehicle with registration number KMC-366-TE.

According to the NSCDC, the operatives acted on credible intelligence concerning the illegal movement of railway infrastructure from Tafawa-Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State to Kano State.

According to the spokesman of the Corps, Afolabi Babawale, upon interception and thorough inspection of the vehicle along the Bauchi-Kano Road, operatives discovered a huge consignment of suspected railway sleepers concealed inside the truck.

He said the driver, Yakubu, and Muhammad, who allegedly claimed ownership of the recovered items, were immediately arrested, while the vehicle and stolen materials were impounded as exhibits.

He noted that the breakthrough followed a strategic directive by the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Audi, who ordered the relocation of the CG’s Special Intelligence Squad to Bauchi State after concerns emerged over the increasing vandalism of railway infrastructure in the region.

He said the deployment came on the heels of an alarm reportedly raised by the Governor of Bauchi State over the activities of suspected criminal elements allegedly operating under the guise of contractors linked to “Des-Rail Limited.”

In response, the Commandant General mandated the Special Intelligence Squad, under the leadership of Commandant Apollos Dandaura, to dismantle networks involved in the systematic destruction and illegal removal of railway infrastructure along the Bauchi-Gombe axis.

Security sources disclosed that the arrested suspects are currently providing useful intelligence to investigators, as efforts intensify to uncover the wider syndicate behind the operation.

Investigators are also said to be tracking secret warehouses allegedly used for storing vandalised railway materials before they are transported to other states for illegal sale.

The NSCDC described the operation as a major success in the federal government’s ongoing efforts to safeguard Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI), particularly railway facilities considered vital to national economic growth and transportation development.

The Corps warned vandals, scrap dealers and other criminal elements involved in the destruction of public infrastructure that Bauchi and neighbouring states would no longer serve as safe havens for their illicit activities.

The latest interception underscores growing concerns over the rising threat posed by infrastructure vandalism in Nigeria, with security agencies increasingly battling organised syndicates accused of sabotaging public investments worth billions of naira.

Analysts said sustained attacks on railway facilities not only undermine economic development but also threaten ongoing efforts by the federal government to modernise the nation’s transportation network and improve regional connectivity.

NSCDC Cracks Down on Railway Vandals, Recovers Stolen Sleepers in Bauchi