Coup plotters reached out for spiritual cover — Cleric

Key Takeaways

• The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday watched a video recording in which an Islamic cleric, standing trial over the coup plot, told investigators that he warned the suspected c The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday watched a video recording in which an Islamic cleric, standing trial over the coup plot, told investigators that he warned the suspected conspirators that their plan would fail and that they would eventually be betrayed.
• Justice Joyce Abdulmalik also ordered a joint trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness of statements and video recordings the prosecution sought to tender against the six defendants.The ruling followed objections by defence lawyers, who argued that the statements were obtained in violation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and the Anti-Torture Act.
• the Nigerian government had on April 22 arraigned six defendants, including a retired major-general, over allegations of treason, terrorism, money laundering and conspiracy to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government.