Suspected coup plotter tells court they planned to cut power supply to Aso Rock

One of the suspected coup plotters, Zekeri Umoru, told the Federal High Court,Abuja,on Wednesday they held discussions to cut off electricity supply to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to aid the alleged coup.

Umoru, a Julius Berger Nigeria Plc employee in the Maintenance Department at the Presidential Villa, spoke in a video evidence played in court.

The defendant said he warned that such an action would immediately trigger investigations and the detention of workers on duty if carried out.

He stated this while being questioned by some members of the Special Investigative Panel (SIP) that first investigated the case.

He alleged that Col. Mohammed Ma’aji, the alleged coup mastermind, offered him money, through Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, the 3rd defendant, to recruit between 18 and 19 persons working inside the Villa.

Umoru said those to recruit include soldiers, officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) and Julius Berger staff.

He also told the investigators that Ma’aji allegedly said he wanted access into the Presidential Villa and could achieve it “with force,” even if those recruited from inside decline to cooperate.

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He claimed that Inspector Ibrahim later demanded N100 million from Ma’aji to facilitate the operation through an ambulance route into the Villa, but that Ma’aji refused on the grounds that the amount was excessive.

He said Ma’aji insisted that he could still gain access into the Presidential Villa by force, though “there would be bloodshed.”

Umoru said at a point, he became uncomfortable with the alleged plan and repeatedly attempted to return the money given to him.

The defendant said he felt that accessing the Presidential Villa “was not a child’s play.”

He denied ever having access to the Villa’s solar power plant despite allegations that he planned to sabotage electricity supply within the complex.

On why he failed to immediately report the alleged discussions to authorities, Umaru claimed he was discouraged by Ibrahim, who allegedly asked him to delete messages and avoid contacting Ma’aji due to an ongoing audit in their office.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned thee matter till Thursday for the continuation of the trial-within-trial being conducted to ascertain the voluntariness or otherwise of the statements made by the six defendants.

The Federal Government had arraigned the defendants on 13-count criminal charge.

The defendants were accused of offences ranging from treason and terrorism to failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.

Those named in the charge are Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (rtd), Cap. (NN) Erasmus Ochegobia Victor (rtd), Insp Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukr Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.

The former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who is alleged to be part of the act, is currently at large.

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