(The Federal High Court. Photo Credit; Daily Nigerian)
The federal government has lined up 30 prosecution witnesses to testify against six defendants standing trial over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration, including a retired army major general, a former navy captain, and a police inspector.
The defendants are retired Major General Mohammed Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Victor, Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.
They face a 13-count charge bordering on treason, t3rrorism financing, failure to disclose information, and m0ney l@undering before a Federal High Court in Abuja. Serving military officers allegedly linked to the plot are being separately court-martialed.
According to the charge filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, the defendants allegedly conspired with Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji and others still at large to wage war against Nigeria and unlawfully remove Tinubu from office.
Some defendants are accused of failing to report knowledge of the alleged plot, while others allegedly handled funds linked to the conspiracy.
The list of prosecution witnesses, contained in a Proof of Evidence filed before the court, reveals that the government intends to rely on a broad range of testimonies and documentary evidence to establish its case.
These include investigating officers who handled the case and recovered exhibits; officials from 13 financial institutions among them Access Bank, Zenith Bank, GTBank, First Bank, UBA, Fidelity Bank, Ecobank, Jaiz Bank, and Opay Digital Services expected to tender account records and banking documents; and forensic experts who extracted and analysed data from mobile phones recovered during the investigation.
Civilian witnesses lined up to testify include Aminu Abdullahi, who is expected to speak to instructions allegedly received from Colonel Ma’aji and the receipt and disbursement of funds;
Abdulganiyu Ahmed, who is to testify on vehicles allegedly purchased in connection with the case; Moses Opata, who is expected to speak on contracts for refurbishing vehicles linked to the defendants; and Peter Gambo, a golf kit dealer expected to testify on the sale of golf kits to a Squadron Leader Noel Zuzu.
Representatives of three hotels Brookville Hotel and Suites and Greenland Luxury Apartments, both in Abuja, and Hotel 17 in Kaduna are also listed as witnesses and are expected to testify on reservations and meetings allegedly organised by Ma’aji and others.
Military witnesses include Captain Haruna, who is expected to testify on a military vehicle allegedly kept in Military Police custody;
Corporal Bejide Kehinde, who is to speak on arms and ammunition allegedly signed out from the armoury of 130 Battalion in Maiduguri; Colonel Y.B. Mohammed, expected to testify on arms received for safekeeping at the 1 Division Garrison Armoury; Brigadier General E. Agada, who is to testify that 403 Amphibious Brigade did not request the backloading of arms from 130 Battalion; and Captain K.I. Eromosele, who is to confirm that 130 Battalion Rear did not request arms from 130 Battalion Main.
The prosecution also informed the court that it reserves the right to file additional evidence and call further witnesses as the trial progresses.
