How I was co-opted into coup plot against Tinubu — Julius Berger official

A Julius Berger employee attached to the Presidential Villa in Abuja told a Federal High Court on Tuesday that he was unknowingly drawn into the alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government, insisting he was misled by co-defendants who concealed the true nature of their activities from him.

Zekari Umoru, the fourth defendant in the ongoing trial of six persons facing treasonable felony charges, made the disclosure through a video recording of his extra-judicial statement played before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik in Abuja.

Umoru, who works in the Maintenance Department of the Presidential Villa, told investigators that his involvement began in May 2025 when the third defendant, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim — also attached to the Presidential Villa Clinic — introduced him to a man he initially knew only as Hassan Mohammed, on the pretext of offering him electrical work at a construction site. He said he later identified the man as Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji.

According to the video evidence, Umoru received multiple cash transfers from Ma’aji and described several meetings, including one at a location identified as Tiger Bar, where Ma’aji distributed between N100,000 and N120,000 to him and associates after buying drinks and making inquiries about their professions.

The most significant transaction occurred on September 24, 2025, when Ma’aji allegedly handed Umoru a bag containing cash. Umoru said he deposited the money at a Zenith Bank branch, where it was counted as N8.8 million. The following day, an additional N2 million was given during another meeting, with instructions that Ibrahim would brief him further.

Umoru told investigators that he grew uncomfortable with the continuous flow of money and pressed Ibrahim for clarification, whereupon Ibrahim told him that Ma’aji was dissatisfied with the state of the country and was planning to “sanitise the government” with the support of unnamed associates. Ibrahim allegedly also suggested a plan involving an ambulance driver to facilitate access into the Presidential Villa.

The defendant also described an occasion when he escorted one Usman — later discovered to be military personnel — into the Presidential Villa without challenge at the gate, and subsequently found Usman taking photographs in his office, which he said he warned him against.

Umoru denied knowledge of any coup plot throughout the recording, expressed regret, apologised to his employers, and declared his support for the Tinubu administration.

The court also heard a separate video statement from the fifth defendant, Islamic cleric Sheikh Imam Kassim Goni, who denied involvement in the plot and said funds he received from Colonel Ma’aji were strictly for prayers and charitable purposes linked to a promotion setback. Investigators, however, pointed out financial records showing transfers to the cleric dating as far back as March 2023 — well before the promotion issues he cited — including a N10 million transfer in October 2024.

Counsel to the fifth defendant, Michael Numa, SAN, told the court he had just received the video exhibit and required more time to review it. Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter to May 11, 12, and 13 for continuation of trial.

The six defendants — retired Major-General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor (retired), Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekari Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani — were arraigned on a 13-count charge filed on April 20 by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, covering offences ranging from treason and terrorism to money laundering linked to terrorism financing. Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva, also named in connection with the alleged plot, remains at large.