A Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sani Abdulkadir, has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that he received money to pray over an alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s government but warned those involved that the operation would fail.
According to TheCable on Monday, Abdulkadir, who is the sixth defendant in the ongoing trial of alleged coup plotters, made the disclosure in a video-recorded statement played in court on Monday during the resumed hearing of the case.
In the statement, the cleric said he informed the alleged plotters that the planned operation would be sabotaged from within and eventually exposed.
He told the court that he had known the alleged ringleader, Colonel Maaji, for less than one year and was introduced to the matter through an intermediary identified as Sanda, who requested spiritual support for the operation.
According to Abdulkadir, after carrying out the prayers, he warned them that the plot would fail because two individuals would reveal those behind it. He added that he was later asked to conduct another round of prayers to stop the two persons from speaking out.
The cleric further stated that money was transferred to him for prayers and charity purposes, while names of alleged participants were also sent to him for inclusion in the prayers.
He said he became aware of the arrests through media reports after Sanda informed him that Colonel Maaji had been unreachable for four days.
Abdulkadir maintained before the court that the money he received was strictly meant for prayers and not to support any coup attempt.
He also admitted that he did not report the alleged plot to security agencies, explaining that he did not know who to approach with the information.
The cleric is standing trial alongside retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, and several others on charges related to treason and conspiracy.
Following arguments by counsel, the court adjourned proceedings for a trial-within-trial to determine whether extra-judicial statements made by the defendants were obtained voluntarily….See More
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