The Federal High Court in Abuja has admitted video recordings and written statements obtained from six alleged coup plotters during military interrogation as evidence in the ongoing trial over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The decision followed a trial-within-trial conducted to determine whether the defendants voluntarily made the statements and participated in the video recordings presented by the Federal Government.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who presided over the case, dismissed objections raised by the defendants against the admissibility of the materials.

She held that they failed to establish that the statements and recordings were obtained through torture, threats, coercion or other forms of inducement.

The judge subsequently ruled that the materials could be admitted and used by the prosecution in establishing its case against the defendants.

During the proceedings, the defendants had challenged the circumstances under which the military obtained their statements and recorded their interrogations.

Their objections raised questions about whether the materials were voluntarily provided or extracted through pressure while they were in custody.

However, after examining the evidence presented during the trial-within-trial, Justice Abdulmalik upheld the position of the Federal Government that the defendants voluntarily made the statements and participated in the recordings.

The judge reportedly described the allegations of duress as an afterthought, adding that the claims were unbelievable in the absence of sufficient evidence to support them.

With the ruling, the prosecution has secured permission to rely on the statements and video recordings as exhibits during the substantive trial.

The materials are expected to form part of the evidence the Federal Government will present in support of the allegations against the defendants.

The six defendants standing trial are retired Major General Mohammed Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.

The Federal Government accused them of involvement in an alleged conspiracy to overthrow President Tinubu’s government and undermine the country’s constitutional order.

They were arraigned on April 22 by the Federal Government through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The defendants are facing a 13-count charge bordering on treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.

The allegations form part of a wider investigation into claims of a plot to remove the current administration through unconstitutional means.

The Federal Government is expected to rely on documentary evidence, statements and other materials to establish the allegations against the defendants as the trial progresses.

However, the defendants remain entitled to challenge the prosecution’s case and present their own defence throughout the proceedings.

Their guilt or innocence will ultimately be determined by the court after considering the evidence and arguments presented by both parties.

The admission of the statements and video recordings represents an important development in the proceedings, as the prosecution can now formally rely on the materials as part of its case.

The court’s decision, however, does not amount to a determination that the alleged coup plot took place or that the defendants are guilty of the offences listed in the charge.

Following the ruling, Justice Abdulmalik fixed December 7 for the continuation of the trial.