Posted by By Innocent Anaba, Emmanuel Oji and Sopuruchi Nwoko on
Special Assistant to Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Political Matters, Dr Umar Ardo told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, that one Lt. Tijani Abdallah, was the key person in the plot to eliminate President Olusegun Obasanjo by shooting down his helicopter while the president is aboard.
Special Assistant to Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Political Matters, Dr Umar Ardo told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, that one Lt. Tijani Abdallah, was the key person in the plot to eliminate President Olusegun Obasanjo by shooting down his helicopter while the president is aboard.
Answering questions under cross-examination at the resumed hearing in the trial of former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to late Head of State, Gen Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, Lt Col Mohammed Umar Adeka and Onwuchekwe Okorie, the only civilian, over their alleged involvement in the alleged coup plot to topple the Obasanjo's administration, Ardo said that Abdallah promised to give the details of the coup, only if he (Abdallah) met Atiku in person, but that he changed his mind and told him (Ardo) of the details of the coup plot later.
Asked by counsel to Okorie, Allens Agbaka, that given the fact that Abdallah had said he will change the course of the coup plot if the Vice President could give him (Abdallah) some assurance on certain matters, whether it did not mean that the said Abdallah was in control of the plot, Ardo said, he (Abdallah) was the ‘key' to the plot. When asked further if the position of Abdallah by the request, does not mean that he (Abdallah) was in full control of the alleged coup plot, Ardo responded, "I don't know".Agbaka had asked further, "Abdallah said he will want to meet the VP before disclosing the details of the plot", to which Ardo answered, "yes". He was further asked, "Did he (Abdallah) meet the VP?", Ardo responded, "no". He was again asked, "As at the time he (Abdallah) told you of the coup plot, did he abandon his initial request to see the VP?" and Ardo answered, "I don't know".
Ardo also told the court under cross-examination, that Abdallah told him that President Obasanjo was to be killed during the Christmas of 2003, but because of his (Abdallah) failure to cooperate, the plot was shifted to Easter 2004.
that after the arrest of Abdallah, the mother (of Abdallah) and one his brother visited him and that they repeated the visited on some other occasions.
Meanwhile, further hearing in the matter had been adjourned till October 27, 2005.