Abuja Court Plays Video of Cleric Warning Coup Plotters

A Federal High Court in Abuja played a video recording on Monday in which Sheikh Abdulkadir, the sixth defendant in the trial of six individuals accused of plotting a coup against President Bola Tinubu's government, described warning the alleged conspirators that their plan would fail due to betrayal.

The footage, presented by the prosecution during ongoing proceedings before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, showed Abdulkadir, an Islamic cleric from Zaria in Kaduna State, recounting how he was approached less than a year ago by an intermediary named Sanda on behalf of Colonel Mohammed Maaji, the alleged ringleader. Sanda sought prayers and divination to ensure the coup's success, Abdulkadir said. After performing initial prayers, the cleric informed the group that the operation would fail and that two members would betray them. Sanda later returned requesting additional prayers to prevent the betrayal, and Abdulkadir received money for prayers and charity, along with names of those involved for inclusion in his supplications.

Abdulkadir maintained that the funds were not payment for supporting the plot but for spiritual services. He learned of arrests through media reports after Sanda...