How a Nigerian Colonel's Ambition Led to His Arrest in a Coup Plot

Since 2023, Mohammed Ma’aji, a Nigerian Army colonel, has been accused of leading a failed coup against President Bola Tinubu’s government. He had been trying to get promoted to brigadier general but missed out twice. Frustrated, he thought if he could not get his rightful place in the military, then he should aim for something bigger.

Mr Ma’aji told investigators that he began pushing for the coup in 2023, towards the end of Muhammadu Buhari’s term. The 49-year-old officer from Niger State said his reasons included insecurity and the poor living conditions for active and retired soldiers, which he claimed the military top brass ignored.

Somehow, news about the coup plot reached the top military leaders. In 2023, Mr Ma’aji was invited to the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and held overnight. The allegation was that some politicians were trying to use him “to disrupt the 2023 general elections.”

He said they took his phone for forensic checks and added that the claims were false. “I was released with a verbal apology because there was no evidence,” he stated in one of his documents obtained by PREMIUM TIMES.

After missing his promotion again in 2024, Mr Ma’aji said he decided to revive the coup plot. Some of his junior officers urged him to do so. “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,” Mr Ma’aji said.

“They were afraid that I might be retired prematurely and that all of us will regret it.”

His Arrest

Mr Ma’aji was arrested on 29 September after military authorities used his promotion hopes to trick him into a meeting. In his signed statement during questioning, he explained how he was lured into custody under the pretense of discussing his promotion with the then Chief of Army Staff, Olufemi Oluyede.

Mr Ma’aji said he received a call from the Chief of Staff to the COAS telling him to report to House 12 at Niger Barracks. Moments later, the COAS called him, urging him to come quickly for a discussion about his promotion.

According to Mr Ma’aji, the Army chief asked if he had talked to retired Major General A. Mohammed, known as “Bandect.” This made him believe the meeting was about his career. “I drove immediately to Niger Barracks House 12 with very high morale because I was excited that my promotion issue was finally receiving attention,” he said.

At that time, plans to overthrow the government were already in motion. They had mapped out operational strategies, fundraising, weapons mobilization, and logistics. Mr Ma’aji said the meeting began by discussing why his promotion was delayed. The COAS asked about his service record and assured him he would be promoted this year.

But the meeting turned when the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Emmanuel Undiandeye, a lieutenant general, arrived. According to him, the CDI asked if he was Colonel Ma’aji and told him to follow him to his office to collect a message for retired Major General Bandect. The COAS then gave him $1,000 for welfare before directing him to go with the intelligence chief.

Thinking he was just delivering a message, Mr Ma’aji followed the CDI to the DIA headquarters. Once there, he was taken to Nicholas Ashinze, a brigadier general and the director of operations at the DIA.

“It was there he started asking me about the plot involving myself, Lt. Felix, Lt. Col. Bappah, and others,” Mr Ma’aji stated. He initially denied knowing anything about a coup plot but learned that one of the co-conspirators, S.S Felix, a lieutenant, had already been arrested. Shamsuddeen Bappah, a lieutenant colonel, was still on the run.

“That was how the investigation commenced on 29 September 2025 till today,” he stated.

Pleas

In the same statement, Mr Ma’aji appealed for mercy for the other suspects. He said they realized their mistakes during the investigation. He claimed their actions were based on “patriotism, love of country, and a genuine desire to have positive change,” not personal gain, while asking authorities to improve military personnel welfare.

He described the tough conditions in the armed forces, saying soldiers and officers face economic hardship, poor welfare, lack of housing, and low morale. He warned that frustration was rising within the ranks and urged military authorities to create safe channels for personnel to voice grievances without fear of punishment.

Background

PREMIUM TIMES first reported on the alleged coup plot in October 2025 after Sahara Reporters revealed that 16 senior military officers had been arrested over an alleged plan to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government. After further investigations, this newspaper identified the officers and published an updated list of 40 suspects, including civilians and a police officer who helped the suspected coup plotters.

When the news broke, the Defence Headquarters did not confirm or deny the coup plot. Instead, they stated that the officers were under investigation as part of routine internal processes to maintain discipline.

The alleged plot caused significant changes in the military. The government canceled the 1 October Independence Day parade and reshuffled military leadership, including the removal of the then Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa. Mr Musa was replaced by Mr Oluyede but later returned to the government as Minister of Defence.

The Defence Headquarters later admitted that there had been a plot to oust Mr Tinubu’s government and announced that those involved would face military judicial panels. In April, the federal government filed 13 charges against six civilians, including two retired military officers, for their roles in the alleged conspiracy. The defendants include Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, a retired major-general; Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, a retired navy captain; Ahmed Ibrahim, a police inspector; Zekeri Umoru, an electrician at the Presidential Villa; Bukar Kashim Goni; and Abdulkadir Sani, an Islamic cleric.

While the retired officers and civilians are facing trial in a civil court, the serving military officers are standing trial before a court martial.