The Federal High Court in Abuja has admitted statements and video recordings made by six alleged coup plotters during military interrogation, dismissing claims that the evidence was obtained through torture or coercion.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who delivered the ruling, held that the Federal Government had established that the defendants voluntarily made the statements and participated in the recorded interrogations.
The ruling followed a trial-within-trial conducted to determine whether the statements and video recordings were obtained voluntarily, after the defence challenged their admissibility.
In her decision, Justice Abdulmalik said there was no credible evidence to establish that the defendants were subjected to torture, threats, inducement or other forms of pressure during interrogation.
She described their allegations of coercion as an afterthought and unbelievable, consequently admitting the disputed statements and recordings as exhibits in the substantive trial.
The six defendants are retired Major General Mohammed Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.
The Federal Government, through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, had arraigned the defendants on April 22 over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu's administration.
They are facing a 13-count charge bordering on treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.
The charge was filed on April 20 by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.
Justice Abdulmalik had ordered the trial-within-trial on May 11 after defence counsel objected to the prosecution's attempt to tender the statements and video recordings, insisting that the materials were not voluntarily obtained.
The prosecution subsequently called four witnesses during the separate proceedings to establish the circumstances under which the defendants made the statements.
The fourth prosecution witness, an Army officer identified by the codename “AAA”, had earlier tendered video recordings of the interrogations before the court commenced the trial-within-trial.
Following the ruling, the judge adjourned the substantive case until December 7 and 10 for continuation of trial.
