Fresh twists emerged yesterday in the ongoing trial of alleged coup d’etat suspects before the Federal High Court in Abuja, after investigators confronted an Islamic cleric with financial records showing multi-million-naira transfers allegedly linked to the principal suspect, Col. Mohammed Ma’aji.

Meanwhile, the fourth defendant, Zekeri Umoru, denied knowledge of any plan to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government, insisting in a recorded statement played in court that he was “misled.”

The cleric, Sheikh Imam Goni, however, denied involvement in any plot to overthrow the President, insisting that all funds he received were strictly for “prayers and charitable purposes.”

Proceedings began on a sombre note after defence counsel informed the court that a colleague, U.H. Kamra, died in a car accident the previous day’s proceedings.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik observed a minute’s silence before the trial resumed.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter till May 11, 12 and 13 for continuation of the trial.

The court subsequently played a recorded extrajudicial statement by Goni as part of the prosecution’s evidence against the six defendants standing trial over the alleged coup conspiracy.

In the video played in court, Goni said he relocated to Karu in Abuja after fleeing insurgency in Maiduguri. He told investigators that his relationship with Ma’aji was based on religious interactions and requests for spiritual support.

According to him, the military officer approached him for prayers over alleged delays in promotion and other personal challenges.

However, investigators in the video challenged his explanation, citing financial records that allegedly showed transfers began as far back as March 2023, months before the promotion-related issues he referenced.

The prosecution further pointed to transactions running into millions of naira, including a N10 million transfer allegedly made in October 2024.

Investigators also suggested that discussions captured during the probe, including references to gaining “access” and acquiring “work tools,” raised suspicion about a broader operation allegedly linked to the coup plot.

UMORU, an employee in the maintenance department of the Presidential Villa working with Julius Berger Nigeria, made the claim in a video recording previewed by the court as part of the prosecution’s evidence against the six defendants standing trial over the alleged plot.

In the video played in open court, Umoru told investigators that he first came in contact with persons linked to the case through the third defendant, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, attached to the Presidential Clinic. He said Ibrahim introduced him to a man identified as Hassan Mohammed, whom he later discovered was Col. Mohammed Ma’aji.

According to Umoru, he initially believed Ma’aji was “a civilian businessman” interested in offering him electrical work at a building under construction.

While defence counsel argued for the case to be adjourned till a further date, prosecution counsel and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), urged the court to stand by its earlier order for accelerated hearing of the case.