Alleged Coup Plot: Villa Worker Admits Contact with Key Suspects, Denies Knowledge of Plan
Proceedings in the ongoing trial over an alleged plot to violently overthrow the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took a dramatic turn as one of the defendants, Zekeri Umoru, admitted establishing contact with individuals linked to the scheme within the Presidential Villa, while insisting he was unaware of any coup plan.
Umoru, the fourth defendant and a maintenance staff member at the Presidential Villa employed by Julius Berger Nigeria, made the disclosure in a recorded extra-judicial statement presented in court.
In the video evidence, Umoru told investigators that his involvement began in May 2025 after he was introduced to key figures by Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, a police officer attached to the Presidential Clinic.
According to him, Ibrahim introduced him to a man identified as Hassan Mohammed, later revealed to be Colonel Mohammed “Ma’aji,” under the pretext of offering electrical work at a construction site.
Umoru said he initially believed Ma’aji was a civilian contractor, noting that financial transfers he received bore the name “Hassan Mohammed.”
The defendant recounted receiving several cash payments from Ma’aji, sometimes in the presence of Inspector Ibrahim. He also described encounters involving another associate, Usman, whom he later discovered to be a military personnel.
He told investigators that at a meeting at a location identified as “Tiger Bar,” Ma’aji distributed between ₦100,000 and ₦120,000 to him and others after social interactions.
A more significant transaction allegedly occurred on September 24, 2025, when he received a “Ghana Must Go” bag filled with cash, which he deposited in a Zenith Bank branch, amounting to ₦8.8 million.
Umoru further stated that an additional ₦2 million was handed to him the following day during another meeting with Ma’aji and Inspector Ibrahim.
He said he became uneasy over the continuous flow of money and demanded clarification from Ibrahim.
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According to Umoru, Ibrahim told him that Ma’aji was dissatisfied with the state of the country and intended to “sanitize the government,” allegedly with the support of unnamed associates.
He also alleged that Ibrahim mentioned a plan involving an ambulance driver to facilitate access into the Presidential Villa.
Despite these revelations, Umoru maintained that he never knowingly participated in any coup plot.
“I was misled. If I had known his true identity or intentions, I would have distanced myself,” he said in the recorded statement.
The defendant also narrated how he once escorted Usman into the Presidential Villa, claiming that security personnel allowed entry without questioning after he identified the visitor as his guest.
He said he later cautioned Usman after noticing him taking photographs within his office.
The court also viewed a separate video involving an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Imam Kassim Goni, who denied any involvement in the alleged plot.
Goni told investigators that funds he received from Colonel Ma’aji were strictly for prayers and charitable activities, including spiritual support related to personal matters.
However, investigators highlighted discrepancies in his account, citing financial records showing transactions dating back to March 2023, including a ₦10 million transfer in October 2024, which appeared inconsistent with his explanation.
They noted that certain conversations referenced in the evidence, including discussions about access and “work tools,” raised concerns about a broader scheme, though both defendants denied any knowledge of a coup attempt.
Following the presentation of the video evidence, counsel to the sixth defendant, Michael Numa (SAN), told the court he had just received the exhibits and required time to study them.
Presiding judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, subsequently adjourned the case to May 11, 12 and 13, 2026 for continuation of trial.
The case remains one of the most closely watched security-related prosecutions, with authorities alleging a coordinated attempt to undermine national stability, while defendants continue to contest the claims.
By PRNigeria
