Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that he warned plotters of an alleged coup against President Bola Tinubu's administration that their plan would fail. His statement was played via video recording in open court before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik. Abdulkadir said he was approached by a man named Sanda, acting on behalf of a senior military officer referred to as Colonel Maaji, seeking spiritual guidance and prayers for the operation. After prayers and consultations, he claimed he warned that the mission was doomed and predicted betrayal from within the group.
Abdulkadir said he later received a request for additional prayers to prevent betrayal among the alleged conspirators. He confirmed that money was transferred to his account, which he said was for prayer sessions and charitable purposes, not for supporting any unconstitutional action. Names of individuals connected to the alleged plot were provided to him for mention during prayers, he added. He claimed he did not report the matter to security agencies because he was unsure who to approach. He recalled growing suspicion after Sanda told him Colonel Maaji had gone missing, followed by media reports of arrests linked to the plot.
The cleric said he was arrested after discovering his bank account had been restricted during a withdrawal attempt. He contacted an official at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), honoured an invitation, and explained the origin of the funds. He maintained that his statement was voluntary and that he was not tortured or intimidated. Prosecutors sought to admit extra-judicial statements from six defendants, including video recordings, obtained by military investigators and a Special Investigation Panel. Defence lawyers objected, arguing the statements were obtained in violation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), citing denial of legal representation and discrepancies between written and video records.
Justice Abdulmalik ordered a joint trial-within-trial to determine the admissibility of the disputed statements and video evidence. The case was adjourned to May 12 for further proceedings.
Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir claims he warned against the failure of a coup plot yet accepted money linked to the scheme and did not alert authorities. His role as a spiritual advisor in a treason case raises questions about the boundaries of religious involvement in political conspiracies. If prayers for coup participants are treated as evidence, it sets a precedent for how spiritual counsel is legally interpreted in national security cases. The trial-within-trial will determine whether confessions obtained under military investigation meet constitutional standards.
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