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Explosive Courtroom Tension: Military Witness Rejects Torture Allegations In Coup Case.
A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial-within-trial of suspects accused of plotting to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the defendants gave their confessional statements voluntarily.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
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.
Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu, demanding an independent investigation into the scandal surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that a transparent probe is necessary to clear suspicions of high-level government involvement in the alleged fraud.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku’s critique centers on the perceived lack of institutional credibility regarding the government’s current explanation of the scandal:
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Implausible Narrative: Atiku criticized the Presidency’s account—provided by Bayo Onanuga—as illogical, questioning how one individual (Adeniyi Adeyemi) could unilaterally secure government office space, conduct high-level meetings with foreign delegations, and process official staff salaries without internal collaboration or negligence.
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Systemic Failure: He emphasized that while Adeyemi should face legal consequences if guilty, the government must address how such an operation bypassed standard institutional oversight.
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Budgetary and Civil Service Inconsistencies: Atiku highlighted that the PFIPC reportedly appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act with a multi-billion naira budget, and that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service allegedly approved the recruitment of over 300 staff members, both of which are structured processes that cannot occur by accident.
The Demand for Accountability
Atiku argued that the Presidency cannot deflect blame onto a single individual while ignoring the structural systems that facilitated the alleged fraud. Given that Adeyemi has denied the allegations and claimed that influential figures are attempting to silence him, Atiku contends that an independent inquiry is urgently required. He concluded by warning that failure to launch a comprehensive investigation would lead to public perception of “complicity by silence” on the part of the President.
Real Madrid has officially and categorically dismissed recent media speculation suggesting they are pursuing Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Official Stance
In an official statement released on Friday, the Spanish club clarified its position:
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Real Madrid confirmed they have made no direct or indirect efforts to sign the 25-year-old Argentina international.
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The club explicitly stated they have no intention of initiating a transfer for the player.
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Maintaining their commitment to “institutional loyalty,” Madrid emphasized that their relationship with Chelsea remains excellent.
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The club expressed regret that unfounded rumors continue to circulate, noting that such misinformation causes unnecessary confusion for fans and damages the involved parties.
Context and Background
The denial follows intense speculation that arose after Jose Mourinho returned as manager for Real Madrid:
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Reports had claimed that Fernández was Mourinho’s primary midfield target and that the player considered Madrid his preferred destination.
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Chelsea reportedly values the midfielder, who is under contract until 2032, at approximately £120 million.
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Fernández previously faced consequences at Chelsea, including being dropped for two matches earlier this year, after publicly expressing his admiration for Real Madrid and his desire to live in the Spanish capital.
Fernández is currently participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Argentina, where he is preparing for a Round of 32 match against Cape Verde. During the previous season, he recorded 15 goals and seven assists across 54 appearances for Chelsea.
On Thursday, June 2, 2026, Justice J.O. Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the final forfeiture of ₦150 million to the Federal Government. The funds, linked to Nicholas Mutu, a serving member of the House of Representatives, were seized following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The ruling was secured under Section 44(2) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Related Offences Act. The court had previously issued an interim forfeiture order and mandated public notice in a national newspaper. As no party provided sufficient evidence to challenge the forfeiture during the interim period, Justice Abdulmalik granted the final order, rejecting arguments presented by counsel for Mutu and his company, Airworld Technologies Ltd.
The EFCC’s Findings
The EFCC’s investigation detailed how the funds were obtained:
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Kickback Scheme: While serving as Chairman of the House Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mutu allegedly received over ₦400 million in kickbacks from an NDDC consultant, Starline Consultancy Services.
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Laundering: The money was reportedly funneled through Heritage Bank accounts belonging to two of Mutu’s companies, Airworld Technologies Ltd and Oyien Homes Ltd, which are owned and operated by the lawmaker and his immediate family.
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The “Consultancy” Ruse: Investigators revealed that after the Committee helped the NDDC recover over ₦100 billion from oil firms, Mutu pressured the consultant to issue a fake subcontract to his company to justify the kickbacks. The consultant later admitted that no actual work was performed by Mutu’s firm.
Mutu’s Defense and Ongoing Legal Status
During the investigation, Mutu returned ₦150 million to the EFCC, though he later argued in court that the payment was involuntary and that the funds resulted from legitimate business dealings. The court ultimately dismissed these claims, ruling that the money constituted proceeds of unlawful activity.
This civil forfeiture follows a separate, ongoing legal battle; the EFCC is currently appealing a previous judgment by Justice F.O.G. Ogunbanjo, which had acquitted Mutu in a related criminal money laundering trial.
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