Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji of the Nigerian Army has reportedly given investigators a detailed account of an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government, naming military officers and civilians he claimed were linked to the movement in Abuja, in revelations published on Monday, 10 August 2026, while the wider case remains before the courts.
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Ma’aji, identified in Premium Times reporting as an alleged architect of the plot, said the movement was motivated by frustration over Nigeria’s condition rather than personal ambition.
“This has nothing to do with any ambition or personal goals. It is purely out of the desire for a prosperous country that works for everyone,” Ma’aji was quoted as saying.
The account, however, represents Ma’aji’s version of events and allegations made during an investigation.
It does not by itself establish that every person he named participated in a coup attempt.
According to the report, Ma’aji said the alleged movement was still in its mobilisation stage when security authorities uncovered it.
He said there was no fixed date for the proposed operation because the group was still seeking additional personnel and resources.
“There was no D-Day. We were waiting for the availability of resources and more officers and soldiers,” he reportedly said.
Ma’aji also described an alleged plan involving Nigeria’s service chiefs.
According to his account, the intention was to place the senior military officers under house arrest during a proposed night-time operation.
He reportedly said photographs and assignments given to participants were connected to preparations for that objective.
The account also referred to alleged financial support.
Ma’aji reportedly identified a civilian, Timipre Sylva, as having contributed about ₦400 million to the movement, while saying that some earlier expenses had been funded from his own pocket.
The allegation is significant because Sylva, a former Bayelsa governor and former federal minister, has previously been linked to the broader investigation in Premium Times reporting.
The allegations against him remain allegations, rather than a judicial finding of guilt.
Ma’aji also reportedly said Brigadier General Sadiq was aware of the plan before withdrawing over concerns about funding and the need for more senior officers.
He reportedly maintained that General Jalo, General Danja and retired Navy Captain Victor were not approached about the alleged movement.
Another part of the account involved the proposed use of members of the Civilian Joint Task Force.
Ma’aji reportedly said Major Iliyasu suggested that fighters in the North-East could be mobilised and moved towards Abuja, although the plan did not reach the stage of finalising the logistics.
The latest revelations add to a case that has been developing since military officers were detained in 2025 over allegations of a plot against the Tinubu administration.
The government has since brought charges against six defendants in connection with the alleged plot.
Court proceedings have included prosecution evidence in the form of video recordings in which two defendants were reported to have acknowledged knowledge of the alleged scheme.
Defence lawyers have challenged the voluntariness of some statements, with the court ordering a trial-within-trial process to determine whether the statements were made voluntarily.
The Defence Headquarters initially characterised the arrests as part of an internal disciplinary process, rather than publicly confirming the existence of a coup attempt.
The military’s handling of the case has therefore remained an important part of the story as investigators and prosecutors pursue the allegations.
Nigeria’s military leadership has meanwhile continued to publicly emphasise professionalism and institutional discipline.
The Defence Headquarters says the Armed Forces’ constitutional responsibility is to protect Nigeria’s sovereignty and national security, while its current leadership has repeatedly highlighted professionalism and operational effectiveness.
The case carries particular historical weight in Nigeria, a country that experienced several military takeovers after independence but returned to democratic rule in 1999.
The Defence Headquarters records 1993 as the year of Nigeria’s last military takeover.
The alleged plot also emerged during a period when military coups and attempted takeovers had again become a major regional concern across West and Central Africa.
For Nigeria, however, the central issue remains whether the allegations made against the detained officers can be established through due process.
Ma’aji’s reported account provides a striking new perspective on how the alleged movement was organised and what its supporters hoped to achieve.
It also places renewed attention on the identities and roles of individuals mentioned in the investigation.
But until the allegations are tested through the appropriate legal process, the claims should not be treated as proof of guilt against Ma’aji’s fellow officers, civilians or any other person named in connection with the case.
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The unfolding proceedings will ultimately determine which elements of the alleged plot can be substantiated and whether those accused bear criminal responsibility.
