An Islamic cleric, Sheikh Bukar Kashim Goni, who was accused of complicity in an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration has stated that the ₦10 million transferred to his account was for prayers.
CityNews reports that Goni is one of the six defendants facing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the botched coup plot.
Other defendants in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026, which was filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, are retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana; retired Naval Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor; serving Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim; and two others, Zekeri Umoru and Abdulkadir Sani.
At the resumed proceedings on Tuesday, the court, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, viewed video evidence that depicted an interaction the Islamic cleric had with security operatives who investigated the case.
When the investigators confronted the defendant with financial records showing multi-million-naira transfers allegedly linked to the principal suspect, Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, he immediately denied his involvement in any plot against President Tinubu.
The defendant insisted all funds he received from Col. Ma’aji were strictly for “prayers and charitable purposes.”
Explaining that he relocated to Karu in Abuja after fleeing insurgency in Maiduguri, the defendant told the investigators that his relationship with Ma’aji was based on religious interactions and requests for spiritual support.
According to him, the military officer approached him for prayers over alleged promotion delays and other personal challenges.
Despite his stoic denial of any affiliation with the alleged coup plot, investigators queried his explanation using evidence from his financial records, which allegedly showed transfers to him starting in March 2023, months before the promotion issues he referenced.
The investigators equally drew his attention to transactions allegedly running into millions of naira, including a ₦10 million transfer said to have been made in October 2024.
He was further asked to explain how some of his discussions with the primary suspect included references to gaining “access” and acquiring “work tools,” which the investigators said pointed to a broader operation, like the planned coup.
However, Sheikh Goni maintained his position, insisting he had no knowledge of any illegal plan, saying he neither had any involvement in political nor military activities.
