Cleric Tells Court He Took Money to Pray Over Alleged Coup Plot
…says he warned it will fail
An Islamic cleric has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that he received money to offer prayers for an alleged coup plot against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration but warned those involved that the mission would not succeed.
The cleric, Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir, who is the sixth defendant in the ongoing trial of suspected coup conspirators, made the revelation in a video-recorded statement played before the court on Monday.
According to Abdulkadir, he was contacted through an intermediary identified as Sanda, who informed him that his superior, allegedly Col. Maaji, was planning a coup and required spiritual prayers to determine its chances of success.
After conducting prayers, the cleric said he advised them that the planned operation would fail and that two individuals would eventually expose the conspiracy.
He further disclosed that another request was later made for prayers aimed at preventing the two alleged informants from revealing the plot. Abdulkadir added that money was subsequently sent to him for prayers and charitable purposes, while names of those allegedly involved were forwarded for mention during the prayers.
The cleric said he only became aware of the arrests through media reports after Sanda informed him that Col. Maaji had been unreachable for several days.
Abdulkadir maintained that the money he received was solely for religious prayers and not to support any coup attempt. He also explained that he did not report the matter because he was uncertain about the appropriate authorities to contact.
He told the court that he was eventually arrested when he visited the EFCC office to address restrictions placed on his bank account. He denied making any coup-related confession while in EFCC custody, insisting that all statements credited to him were made voluntarily and without intimidation or torture.
Meanwhile, defence lawyers opposed the prosecution’s attempt to tender extra-judicial statements from the six defendants, alleging that the statements were obtained under coercion and without legal representation, while also pointing to inconsistencies between the recorded videos and written documents.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik subsequently ordered a joint trial-within-trial to determine whether the statements were voluntarily made and admissible in court.
The matter was adjourned until May 12 for further proceedings.
