Presidential Villa Employee Testifies Plotters Planned to Shut Power in Alleged Coup

During ongoing proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Zekeri Umoru—a maintenance engineer at the Presidential Villa—told a Special Investigative Panel that discussions took place about cutting the Villa’s electricity as part of an alleged coup plot. Video evidence of his interrogation was played before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik to decide if statements were voluntary and admissible. Umoru denied having access to the Villa’s solar power system and said he warned co-conspirators that any blackout would trigger immediate investigations. He also claimed that retired Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, identified as the alleged mastermind, and co-defendant Ahmed Ibrahim tried to recruit DSS personnel, soldiers, and Julius Berger staff. Umoru said Ibrahim once demanded ₦100 million for entry via an ambulance route before the plan was dropped. The case, brought by the Federal Government on a 13-count charge including treason and terrorism, names six defendants. Proceedings resume on May 21 to determine the legality of the interrogations in this high-profile trial.

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