EXCLUSIVE: How Col. Mohammed Ma’aji Allegedly Planned The 2025 Foiled Coup Against Tinubu

PREMIUM TIMES_ can authoritatively reveal, for the first time, the full account of the alleged architect of the 2025 failed coup, Nigerian Army Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji.

Col. Ma’aji, 50, allegedly spearheaded a plot to overthrow Nigeria’s democratically elected government last year. The plot reportedly collapsed before it became public knowledge.

Nigeria’s history includes a mix of “phantom coups” thwarted during planning, coups foiled during execution, and six successful coups.

In 2025, more than three decades after Nigeria’s break from military rule, another alleged attempt ended in the arrest and interrogation of serving and retired military officers, a police officer, and civilians suspected of playing various roles in a plot to topple the President Bola Tinubu administration.

*DHQ Admits Plot, Cancels Independence Day Parade*

In its first official reaction, the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, did not deny that officers were involved. It described the arrests as “an ongoing investigation… a routine internal process aimed at ensuring discipline and professionalism is maintained within the ranks.”

The foiled plot, uncovered in late September 2025, unsettled the Tinubu government. Among other actions, it led to the cancellation of the October 1 Independence Day Parade and a reshuffle of the military hierarchy, including the sacking of the then Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.

While media reports linked the cancellation to the alleged plot, the DHQ said it was called off to allow the President to “attend a strategic bilateral meeting outside the country.”

The DHQ later admitted there was indeed a coup attempt to oust Mr Tinubu’s government, adding that indicted officers would be arraigned before military judicial panels.

Drawing on interviews with intelligence sources, _PREMIUM TIMES_ has reported extensively on the conspiracy, from the initial arrest of 16 serving military officers in September. By February, 40 people, including senior officers across the armed forces, a police officer, and civilians allegedly involved in reconnaissance, funding and propaganda, had been arrested.

For the first time, this newspaper is publishing a series of exclusive reports based on a trove of confidential documents totalling about 7,424 pages. These include bank statements, encrypted chat logs, hotel receipts, purchase records, and statements by participants and non-participants with financial links to the alleged planners.

Mr Ma’aji, an infantry officer from Niger State who failed promotion to brigadier general twice, explained in his statement how he conceived the plot and his motivation.

*Arrest, Interrogation, Charges*

Mr Ma’aji was arrested on 29 September 2025, the same day the government cancelled the Independence Day parade. He was interrogated between 18 October 2025 and 19 February at the headquarters of the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police, NACMP, in Asokoro, Abuja, according to statements signed by him and an investigator.

In April, the federal government filed 13 charges against six individuals accused of being part of the plot. They are: retired Major-General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana; retired Navy Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor; Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim; Zekeri Umoru, an electrician at the Presidential Villa; Bukar Kashim Goni; and Abdulkadir Sani, a Zaria-based Islamic cleric.

While the ex-military officers and civilians are being tried in a civil court, serving officers, including Mr Ma’aji, are facing trial at a court-martial.

According to documents reviewed for this report, more than 30 officers and civilians were interrogated. Their statements form part of the prosecution’s case, but admissibility is being contested after several defendants alleged the statements were not made voluntarily.

The court has ordered a trial-within-trial to determine voluntariness before deciding whether to admit the statements as evidence.

*’It Started In 2023′ — Ma’aji’s Account*

In his statement, Mr Ma’aji said the plot dated back to 2023, towards the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

“Things particularly got out of control towards the end of Buhari’s administration when corruption and nepotism became the order of the day. Insecurity started spreading from the North-east to the North-west and North-central parts of the country. Kidnapping and banditry engulfed the whole of northern Nigeria,” he stated.

“The structure became critical and precarious with lives of troops and innocent citizens being lost on a daily basis,” he wrote, adding that this was when “the idea of military intervention started.”

He said “it was expected that the higher hierarchy of the military could have acted to save the situation. Unfortunately, there was no action from the top.”

Mr Ma’aji said the movement began by identifying officers who shared “the same concerns and worries about the deteriorating situation of the country and co-opting them into the scheme.”

“Most of the officers involved share the same sense of patriotism, love of country and genuine desire for positive change,” he said.

*Funding Struggles*

Mr Ma’aji said lack of funds, logistics and manpower forced him and his co-conspirators to shelve plans to act in 2023.

“Most of the money spent were my personal resources generated through sales of my personal property coupled with sacrifice and contributions from some members,” he said.

He told investigators that Major AJ Ibrahim contributed ₦1 million through his First Bank account, while Captain AA Yusuf donated US dollars on a few occasions.

Mr Ma’aji said he sold three houses in Kaduna State and a students’ hostel he owned at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

*Plot Revived In 2024*

The plan was revived after Mr Ma’aji failed his second promotion attempt in 2024.

“When I missed my second attempt at promotion to brigadier general in 2024, some of the boys started disturbing and calling on me that we needed to revive the movement again,” he said. “They were afraid that I might be retired prematurely and that all of us will regret it.”

He said Lieutenant Colonel Shamsuddeen Bappah was at the forefront of the revival and travelled from Ibadan to Abuja to convince him.

“I told him I was not in a good financial state because he was aware that I had sold all my property in the course of the movement,” he said. “But he insisted that we have to carry out the plan.”

According to him, the first meeting took place in late 2024 or early 2025. Subsequent meetings were held at Brookville Hotel and Greenland Hotel in Lokogoma, Abuja.

Mr Ma’aji said members believed Nigeria’s situation had deteriorated under President Tinubu. He cited fuel subsidy removal, naira floatation, taxes, and electricity tariff hikes, as well as corruption and insecurity.

He also referenced force used against protesters during #EndSARS, #EndBadGovernance, and “Take Back Your Country” demonstrations.

*Alleged Financier Denies Involvement*

Former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva, believed by investigators to be the main financier, has denied involvement. In a statement in October last year, his spokesperson said Mr Sylva “has no involvement whatsoever — either in planning or in logistics — with any such plot.”

The statement said Mr Sylva and his wife were in the UK for a medical check-up and would proceed to Malaysia for a conference. He is not known to have returned to Nigeria since.

Five persons associated with him are facing charges for allegedly concealing his whereabouts, while nine properties linked to him are under an interim forfeiture order.

*Ma’aji, Others Plead Not Guilty*

Mr Ma’aji and other accused persons facing charges at the General Court Martial have denied wrongdoing. Six others, including retired officers, facing charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja have also pleaded not guilty. They have objected to the admissibility of their statements and video recordings of interrogations.

The prosecution maintains due process was followed.

The claims in statements by Mr Ma’aji and others are allegations. The courts will determine guilt or innocence at the end of ongoing trials.