The witness, an officer of the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police, testified on Tuesday before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

The separate trial began after defence lawyers challenged the Federal Government’s move to tender video recordings of the defendants’ extra-judicial statements, arguing that the statements were obtained under duress.

Counsel to the Federal Government, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court that the prosecution had three witnesses prepared to testify during the proceeding.

While giving evidence, the military officer stated that the defendants remained calm throughout interrogation and were fully informed of their constitutional rights before making any statements.

He also said investigators followed the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, as well as standard investigative procedures.

The prosecution later presented statements allegedly obtained from the six defendants, along with an external hard drive and flash drive containing video recordings of the interrogations.

The court admitted the materials as exhibits after defence counsel did not object during the trial-within-trial.

According to the witness, none of the suspects was denied legal representation, and all were informed of their right to remain silent.

Speaking specifically on retired Major-General Mohammed Gana, the first defendant, the witness described him as calm throughout the interrogation and said he was clearly informed that any statement he made could be used against him in court.

He insisted that the video evidence showed no signs of intimidation, coercion, or inducement.

Responding to discrepancies between oral interviews and written statements, the witness argued that written records may not always perfectly match spoken words, stating that “human beings are not computers.”

He gave similar testimony regarding retired naval captain Erasmus Victor, the second defendant, maintaining that his statement was also voluntarily made.

The witness further disclosed that an interpreter was provided for the sixth defendant, an Islamic cleric who was not fluent in English, explaining that his statements were translated between Hausa and English before being read back to him for confirmation.

Under cross-examination, however, the witness admitted that he was not a full member of the special investigative panel and only participated occasionally in the investigation.

He also acknowledged that the video recordings shown in court only covered statements taken before the military police and not those obtained by the main investigative panel.

Additionally, he confirmed that none of the statements carried endorsements from lawyers and that no legal practitioners, civil society representatives, or justices of the peace were present during the recordings.

Despite this, he maintained that all defendants were informed of their right to legal counsel but did not request lawyers during interrogation.

Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter until May 13 for continuation of the trial-within-trial.

The Federal Government, through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, is prosecuting six suspects over an alleged plot to topple the Tinubu administration.