ABUJA — The Federal High Court in Abuja has admitted statements and video recordings of six alleged coup plotters as evidence, dismissing defense claims that the materials were extracted under torture.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, delivering a ruling on a trial-within-trial, held that the Federal Government successfully proved the defendants made their statements and participated in the recorded interrogations voluntarily. The court dismissed the allegations of duress as an afterthought, noting a lack of evidence to support claims of military coercion or torture.
The defendants facing trial 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 Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation on a 13-count charge. The charges border on treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence, and money laundering linked to terrorism financing under case marker FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026.
Justice Abdulmalik ordered the trial-within-trial on May 11 after defense counsel objected to the admissibility of the prosecution’s evidence, maintaining the statements were involuntary. The objection followed the testimony of four prosecution witnesses, including an army officer codenamed AAA, who tendered the video recordings.
Following the admission of the materials as exhibits, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until December 7 and 10 for the continuation of the trial.
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