Court Hears Confession Claims In Alleged Tinubu Coup Plot Case
Court Begins Trial-Within-Trial Over Alleged Forced Confessions
PROCEEDINGS at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday centred on whether six defendants accused in an alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu made their statements voluntarily during interrogation.
The court is conducting a trial-within-trial after the defendants challenged the admissibility of their confessional statements, claiming they were obtained under duress.
The Federal Government alleges the men were involved in a conspiracy to overthrow the administration, charges they strongly deny.
Prosecution Witness Defends Voluntariness of Statements
A prosecution witness told the court that all six defendants gave their statements freely during investigations carried out by military and security operatives.
The witness said interrogation sessions were recorded on video and showed no evidence of coercion, intimidation, or inducement.
According to him, the suspects were informed of their constitutional rights, including the right to remain silent and the right to legal representation.
He added that each defendant appeared calm and fully aware during questioning.
Evidence Presented to the Court
The prosecution tendered:
- Written statements of the six defendants
- Video recordings of interrogations
- Storage devices containing digital evidence
The court admitted the materials as exhibits after no objections were raised by the defence during the trial-within-trial.
The witness maintained that the process followed standard procedures under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
Defence Questions Legality and Conditions
During cross-examination, defence lawyers argued that the statements were not freely made and pointed to alleged inconsistencies between written and recorded accounts.
The witness, however, insisted that differences were normal since oral interviews cannot be reproduced word-for-word in writing.
He also confirmed that no lawyers were present during interrogations, though he maintained that suspects were informed of their rights.
Case Involves Alleged Coup Conspiracy
The defendants include a retired army general, a retired naval officer, a police inspector, an electrician, and others accused of participating in an alleged conspiracy against the Tinubu administration.
They face multiple charges including treason, terrorism, and money laundering.
The court adjourned the matter for continuation of the trial-within-trial.
