Cleric in Custody Over Alleged Coup Plot Against Tinubu

Sheikh Khalifa Sani Abdulkadir, a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, is alive and currently held in protective custody by federal security agencies, as disclosed by senior intelligence officials. He is under investigation by a joint team from the Nigerian military and the Department of State Services (DSS) for alleged links to a coup plot against President Bola Tinubu's administration.

Intelligence sources revealed that a financial transaction of $2 million was traced to the cleric's bank account, which military officials allege is connected to the coup attempt. Sheikh Khalifa's family disputes these allegations, asserting that the transaction was a routine spiritual offering related to a prayer request for blessings.

The cleric had sparked nationwide concern after he reportedly traveled to Abuja, leading to a freeze on his bank account and loss of contact with his family. His legal team has filed a fundamental rights suit for his release, with the case already heard twice in the Federal High Court in Abuja, scheduled for further hearing on April 10, 2026.