The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday watched a video recording in which an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir, told investigators he warned the alleged coup plotters that their plan to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government would fail and that they would eventually be betrayed.
The video, played during the trial of six suspects accused of conspiring to stage a coup, captured Abdulkadir’s interrogation by military investigators. The Zaria-based cleric, the 6th defendant in the case, said he was approached through a man identified as Sanda to offer prayers for the success of the plot.
According to Abdulkadir, Sanda informed him that his “oga” — alleged ringleader Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji — intended to stage a coup and needed spiritual support. After conducting prayers, the cleric said he told them the operation was doomed.
“I told them the plan would fail and that two persons would eventually expose those involved,” Abdulkadir said in the video played before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik. He added that the plotters later returned, asking for more prayers to prevent the two individuals from speaking out.
The cleric admitted receiving money for prayers and charity, along with the names of alleged participants for inclusion in the prayers. He insisted the funds were strictly for religious purposes and not to support an unconstitutional act.
Abdulkadir said he first learned of the arrests through media reports, after Sanda informed him that Colonel Ma’aji had been unreachable for four days. “I knew a coup meant the forceful overthrow of government, but I did not know who to report to,” he told investigators.
The video was played while the fourth prosecution witness, PW4, was still in the witness box. The court also heard that Abdulkadir had known Colonel Ma’aji for less than a year before being contacted for the spiritual consultancy.
The six defendants are facing 13 counts including treason, terrorism-related offences, money laundering, and failure to disclose security information. One of the accused, former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva, is said to be at large.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter for further hearing on May 12 and 13, 2026. The trial continues as the prosecution seeks to establish the extent of the alleged plot against the Tinubu administration.
