A fourth defendant in the ongoing trial of six suspected coup plotters, Zekeri Umoru, has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that an army officer, Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, allegedly declared his intention to gain access into the Presidential Villa “with force,” even if insiders refused to cooperate.
Umoru made the allegation in a video statement presented before the court as part of exhibits in the ongoing trial-within-trial over the admissibility of the defendants’ extrajudicial statements.
According to the statement previewed in court, Umoru, who worked with Julius Berger on the Presidential Villa clinic project, alleged that Ma’aji, through the third defendant, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, approached him with money and directed him to recruit between 18 and 19 individuals working within the Presidential Villa, including soldiers, Department of State Services personnel, and Julius Berger staff.
He further claimed that discussions were held on plans to cut off electricity supply within the Presidential Villa to facilitate the alleged operation. However, Umoru said he warned that such an action would immediately attract scrutiny and lead to the detention of workers on duty.
The defendant also alleged that Inspector Ibrahim later demanded N100 million from Ma’aji to enable access into the Villa through an ambulance route, but the army officer reportedly rejected the amount, describing it as excessive.
According to Umoru, Ma’aji allegedly insisted he could still gain entry into the Presidential Villa by force, although he acknowledged that “there would be bloodshed.”
Umoru told investigators that he later became uncomfortable with the alleged plot and repeatedly attempted to return the money given to him, maintaining that the Presidential Villa “was not child’s play.”
He also denied allegations that he had access to the Villa’s solar power facility or any plan to sabotage electricity supply within the complex.
The court further heard that Umoru failed to immediately report the alleged conversations to security authorities because Inspector Ibrahim allegedly warned him against contacting Ma’aji and advised him to delete their messages, citing an ongoing audit in their office.
Following the screening of the video evidence, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until May 21 for continuation of the trial-within-trial.
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