Coup: Suspect Details Alleged Plan to Breach Presidential Villa, Capture President Tinubu

A suspected coup plotter, Zekeri Umoru, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that discussions were held on cutting electricity to the Presidential Villa as part of an alleged plan targeting President Bola Tinubu and senior government officials.

Umoru, identified as a staff member of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc working in the maintenance department at the Presidential Villa, made the claims in video evidence presented before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik during proceedings on Wednesday.

According to the video played in court, he warned fellow suspects that switching off power at the Villa would immediately trigger investigations and lead to the detention of workers on duty.

He alleged that retired Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, described as the alleged mastermind, instructed him through Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim to recruit between 18 and 19 individuals working within the Presidential Villa.

The people allegedly targeted for recruitment included soldiers, operatives of the State Security Service, and workers of Julius Berger.

Umoru further claimed that Ma’aji said he intended to gain access to the Presidential Villa “with force” if insiders refused to cooperate.

He also alleged that Inspector Ibrahim demanded ₦100 million to facilitate access through an ambulance route into the Villa, but the request was rejected for being too expensive.

According to the suspect, Ma’aji allegedly insisted the operation could still proceed by force, despite the likelihood of “bloodshed.”

Umoru told investigators he later became uncomfortable with the alleged plan and attempted several times to return the money he had received.

He said he realized that accessing the Presidential Villa “was no child’s play.”

He denied allegations that he planned to sabotage the Villa’s solar power system, insisting he had no access to the facility.

Explaining why he did not immediately alert authorities, Umoru alleged that Inspector Ibrahim discouraged him from doing so and advised him to delete messages linked to the discussions because of an ongoing office audit.

Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter for continuation of the trial-within-trial aimed at determining whether statements obtained from the six defendants were made voluntarily.

The Federal Government, through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, filed a 13-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026 against the suspects.

Those charged include retired Major-General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.

Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who was also mentioned in the case, is reportedly listed as being at large.

The defendants are facing charges bordering on treason, terrorism, withholding security intelligence, and alleged terrorism financing.

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