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An Islamic cleric standing trial over an alleged coup plot has told investigators that suspected conspirators approached him for prayers and spiritual guidance, seeking divine assurance that their operation would succeed, a video recording played in court on Monday revealed.
Sheikh Abdulkadir Sani, the sixth defendant in the treason case, made the statement in a video recording played before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In the recording, Sani said he was introduced to the alleged ringleader, identified as Col Maaji, through a man named Sanda. He said Sanda told him that his “oga” needed spiritual guidance and divination over the success of a planned operation.
“I warned them the coup would fail,” Sani said in the recording.
He added that he also told them that two persons involved in the alleged conspiracy would eventually betray the group.
According to Sani, after conducting prayers, he informed them that the operation would fail, but Sanda later returned with another request for prayers “so that the two individuals would not betray the group.”
The cleric said money was subsequently transferred to him for prayers and charity, while the names of persons allegedly involved in the plot were also sent to him for inclusion in the prayers.
Sani told investigators that shortly after the prayers commenced, Sanda informed him that Col Maaji had not been seen for four days.
He added that he later learned through media reports that arrests had been made over an alleged coup plot.
Sani maintained in the video that the money transferred to him was not payment for supporting a coup.
“The money was meant for prayers,” he told investigators.
He admitted that he understood a coup to mean a military overthrow of government, but claimed he did not report the alleged plot because he did not know who to report to.
The cleric also stated that he did not make any statement relating to a coup while in EFCC custody.
Before the end of the video, Sani confirmed that nobody assaulted or tortured him and that his “statements were made voluntarily.”
The government had on April 22 arraigned six defendants, including Sani, over allegations of treason, terrorism, money laundering and conspiracy to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government. They have all pleaded not guilty.
Justice Abdulmalik has ordered a joint trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness of statements and video recordings the prosecution sought to tender against the defendants. The court adjourned till May 12 for continuation of proceedings.
