Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed December 7 to rule on the admissibility of exhibits sought to be tendered by the Federal Government in the trial of suspected coup plotters.
The judge fixed the date on Wednesday after prosecution counsel, Maryam Okorie, and defence lawyers adopted their processes and argued for and against the application.
The Federal Government, through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, had on April 22, arraigned six defendants on a 13-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026, filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.
The defendants are retired Major General Mohammed Gana, retired Navy Capt. Erasmus Victor, Insp Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni and Abdulkadir Sani as 1st to 6th defendants respectively.
Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, alleged to be involved in the crime, 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.
Justice Abdulmalik had on May 11 ordered a trial-within-trial after defence lawyers objected to the admissibility of statements and video recordings, arguing they were not made voluntarily.
The objection came after the prosecution had called four witnesses. The 4th prosecution witness, an army officer identified by codename “AAA” for security reasons, is yet to be discharged from the witness box. He tendered video recordings of the defendants’ interrogations before the trial-within-trial began.
The Federal Government closed its case in the trial-within-trial on June 23, after which the defendants opened their defence.
It would be recalled that Zekeri Umoru, the 4th defendant, on May 20 told the court that discussions were held on switching off electricity supply to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to aid the alleged coup.
Umoru, a Julius Berger employee in the Maintenance Department at the Presidential Villa, said in video evidence that he warned such action would trigger investigations and detention of workers on duty.
He alleged that Col. Mohammed Ma’aji, the alleged coup mastermind, offered him money through Insp Ahmed Ibrahim, the 3rd defendant, to recruit 18 to 19 persons working inside the Villa, including soldiers, DSS officials and maintenance staff.
He said Ma’aji allegedly said he wanted access into the Villa and could achieve it “with force” even if those recruited declined to cooperate.
Also, Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir, an Islamic cleric and 6th defendant, said in video evidence that he warned his co-suspects that the plan would fail and they would be exposed.
He said he was recruited to pray against leakage of information.
