Zekeri Umoru, the fourth defendant in the ongoing trial of six suspected coup plotters at the Federal High Court in Abuja, told a Special Investigative Panel that Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji allegedly said he wanted access into the Presidential Villa and could achieve it “with force,” even if those recruited from inside refused to cooperate.
In a video previewed in court as part of exhibits in the ongoing trial-within-trial on the defendants’ extrajudicial statements, Umoru, who worked with Julius Berger at the Presidential Villa clinic project, alleged that Ma’aji, through the third defendant, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, offered him money and instructed him to recruit between 18 and 19 persons working inside the Villa, including soldiers, DSS personnel, and Julius Berger staff.
The witness further alleged that discussions were held on plans to switch off electricity within the Presidential Villa to aid the operation, but he warned that such an action would immediately trigger investigations and the detention of workers on duty.
According to the defendant, Inspector Ibrahim later demanded one hundred million naira from Ma’aji to facilitate the operation through an ambulance route into the Villa, but Ma’aji reportedly rejected the amount as excessive, insisting that he could still gain entry by force, though “there would be bloodshed.”
Umoru told investigators he became uncomfortable with the alleged plan and repeatedly attempted to return the money given to him, insisting that the Presidential Villa “was not child’s play.”
He also denied ever having access to the Villa’s solar power plant, despite allegations that he planned to sabotage electricity supply within the complex.
The court also heard from the video previewed that the defendant failed to immediately report the alleged discussions to authorities, claiming he was discouraged by Inspector Ibrahim, who allegedly asked him to delete messages and avoid contacting Ma’aji due to an ongoing audit in their office.
Following the conclusion of the screening of the video evidence, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the case to May 21 for continuation of the trial-within-trial.
