A Federal High Court in Abuja has admitted statements and video recordings obtained during the military interrogation of six alleged coup plotters, dismissing their claims that the evidence was obtained through coercion.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the defendants voluntarily made the statements and participated in the recordings during interrogation over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government.
The judge delivered the ruling at the conclusion of a trial-within-trial conducted to determine whether the evidence presented by the Federal Government was obtained voluntarily.
Justice Abdulmalik held that there was no evidence that the defendants made the statements or participated in the recordings under duress.
She described their claims of coercion as an afterthought and unbelievable, dismissing allegations that the military tortured, induced or used force against them to obtain the confessional statements and recordings.
The court subsequently admitted the statements and video recordings as exhibits against the defendants.
Six Defendants Face 13-Count Charge
The defendants are retired Major General Mohammed Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.
The Federal Government, through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, arraigned the six defendants on April 22 on a 13-count charge.
The charge, filed on April 20 by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, includes allegations of treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.
The defendants had challenged the admissibility of their statements and video recordings, arguing that the evidence was not obtained voluntarily.
Justice Abdulmalik ordered the trial-within-trial on May 11 after defence lawyers objected to the prosecution’s attempt to tender the materials.
The separate proceedings began after the prosecution called four witnesses. An Army officer identified by the codename “AAA” had earlier tendered video recordings of the defendants’ interrogations.
Following Thursday’s ruling, the court fixed December 7 and 10 for the continuation of the trial.
