The Federal Government has presented dramatic video evidence to the Federal High Court in Abuja, detailing an alleged plot to topple President Bola Tinubu’s administration through a coup d’état.
During Monday’s court session, prosecutors played recordings where several defendants described their specific roles in the botched transition plan to investigators.
This evidence is a cornerstone of the ongoing trial against a group of high-ranking retired and serving officers accused of masterminding the 2025 conspiracy.
The legal battle, marked as FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026, features retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, and serving Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim as primary defendants.
Others facing charges include Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani. A notable name also listed in the charge sheet is Timipre Sylva, the former Governor of Bayelsa State and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.
Sylva is reportedly at large, having left the country shortly before the security agencies moved in to expose the plot.
The prosecution’s video clips focused heavily on the admissions of Captain Victor and Inspector Ibrahim. While they were seen discussing their awareness of the plot, the first defendant, retired Major General Gana, maintained a different stance in the footage.
Gana, who retired in 2010 as the Chief of Defence Logistics, told investigators he had lived a quiet, undisciplined-free life since leaving the military. Although he admitted knowing the alleged coordinator, Colonel M. A. Ma’aji, he insisted he believed Ma’aji was only disgruntled over promotion issues and had no inkling of a coup.
Gana did admit to sharing a copy of an old coup speech and forwarding anti-government messages via WhatsApp, but he claimed these were forwarded as received without any intent to originate a rebellion. He strongly denied conducting reconnaissance at the Presidential Villa or attempting to raise billions of Naira from a former governor to fund the operation.
In contrast, retired Captain Victor admitted he knew about the plot but failed to report it due to his close relationship with Ma’aji. Victor explained that Ma’aji’s anger over a stalled promotion had boiled over into a desire to “overthrow the system.”
He claimed he advised Ma’aji against it but admitted to staying in touch through secure messaging apps using coded language.
Inspector Ibrahim, who was attached to the State House, provided perhaps the most revealing testimony in the video. He admitted to receiving funds and conducting physical reconnaissance around the Presidential Villa, including Aguda House.
He confessed to taking photographs of the President’s residence and discussing access routes, though he claimed he only “played along” because he believed the State House was ultimately impenetrable.
The defendants utilized coded terms like “fertilizer” and “farming” to discuss their funding and operational plans.
The defense team has fiercely challenged the admissibility of these videos, arguing the statements were not made voluntarily.
However, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik dismissed their initial objections to prevent the screening, noting that a trial-within-trial would be conducted to settle the issue of voluntariness. The case, which includes charges of treason, terrorism, and money laundering, has been adjourned until Tuesday for further hearing.
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