Federal High Court: Admits Statements, Videos of Coup Plotters

• The Federal High Court in Abuja admitted statements and video recordings from six alleged coup plotters as evidence.
• Justice Joyce Abdulmalik dismissed claims by the defendants that the materials were obtained through torture or coercion.
• The court found that the Federal Government established the voluntariness of the statements and interrogations.
• The defendants, including a retired Major General and Navy Captain, face a 13-count charge including treason and terrorism.
• The case has been adjourned until December 7 and 10 for the continuation of the trial.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled to admit statements and video recordings made by six individuals accused of plotting a coup, accepting them as evidence in the ongoing trial.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled to admit statements and video recordings made by six individuals accused of plotting a coup, accepting them as evidence in the ongoing trial. This pivotal decision, delivered on a Thursday by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, came after the court dismissed claims from the defendants that these materials were obtained under duress, including torture, inducement, and coercion during military interrogation.

Justice Abdulmalik concluded that the Federal Government successfully demonstrated the voluntariness of the defendants' statements and their participation in the recorded interrogations. The judge characterized the allegations of duress as an afterthought, noting a lack of substantiating evidence to support claims that the military employed torture or force to extract the information.

The court's ruling followed a 'trial-within-trial' process, which Justice Abdulmalik had ordered on May 11. This special proceeding was initiated after defense lawyers challenged the admissibility of the tendered statements and video recordings, asserting that they were not voluntarily obtained from their clients. The objection arose after four prosecution witnesses, including an Army officer identified by the codename AAA, presented video recordings of the defendants' interrogations as part of their testimony.

Ultimately, the court found no credible basis for the defense's claims, paving the way for the materials to be formally accepted as exhibits. This procedural step is crucial in criminal proceedings, as it determines which evidence can be considered by the court in reaching a verdict.

The six defendants implicated in the alleged coup plot are retired Major General Mohammed Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani. They were arraigned on April 22 by the Federal Government, acting through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, on a comprehensive 13-count charge.

The charges against them encompass serious offenses including treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence, and money laundering linked to terrorism financing. The case is officially designated FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026, reflecting the gravity and scope of the allegations being pursued by the state.

With the dismissal of the defense's objections and the subsequent admission of the contested statements and video recordings as evidence, the trial is set to continue. Justice Abdulmalik has adjourned the proceedings, scheduling the next court dates for December 7 and December 10. These dates will mark the continuation of the trial, where further evidence and arguments are expected to be presented by both the prosecution and the defense in this high-profile case.

Source: Original reporting via Metro Plus