Islamic cleric Sheikh Abdulkadir Sani testified before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, stating that he warned a group of alleged coup plotters that their scheme to unseat President Bola Tinubu would ultimately fail. This testimony is part of the ongoing trial of the accused conspirators.
Sheikh Sani, who is based in Kaduna, revealed that he was approached through an intermediary known only as “Sanda” and was asked to provide spiritual support for the purported operation. He confirmed that the group transferred money to him but insisted that the funds were intended solely for prayers and charitable purposes, rather than for financing a coup.
After conducting the prayers, the cleric informed the participants that their plan was doomed to fail due to internal betrayals that would expose the plot. “I told them the plan would fail because they would be exposed from within,” he stated in court, as recorded in the video evidence presented by the prosecution.
Additionally, Sani mentioned that he received a list of names of the alleged participants, which he used in his prayers and later submitted to the court as part of his evidence.
Legal analysts have noted that Sani’s testimony highlights the prosecutors’ efforts to demonstrate that the accused sought external assistance, even if only spiritual, to advance their alleged agenda. The court has yet to rule on the credibility of the cleric’s statements or the extent of his involvement.
This case represents a significant test of Nigeria’s security institutions as they face accusations of a coordinated attempt to destabilize the government. The trial is expected to continue over the coming weeks, with additional witnesses scheduled to appear. The outcome of this case will likely influence public perception of the administration’s handling of internal threats and its broader approach to national security.
