Nigerian Army Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji has broken his silence on the alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, revealing the reasons he said influenced discussions among military officers involved in the alleged movement.
Ma’aji, who is currently facing proceedings alongside several other military officers, reportedly gave investigators an account of how discussions about military intervention began, the concerns that motivated some of those involved and how the alleged movement was later revived.
According to the account attributed to Ma’aji, discussions about possible military intervention began in 2023, towards the end of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. He said worsening insecurity, corruption and economic hardship were among the issues discussed by individuals who allegedly supported the idea.
Ma’aji reportedly told investigators that the security situation had become increasingly concerning and that some senior military officers believed stronger action was required.
He also alleged that the group was motivated by what members perceived as failures in governance and growing economic difficulties facing Nigerians.
According to the statement attributed to him, concerns later extended to policies implemented under the Tinubu administration, including the removal of fuel subsidies, exchange-rate reforms, taxation and electricity tariff increases.
Ma’aji reportedly said these issues contributed to dissatisfaction among some of the individuals associated with the alleged movement.
He also referred to the government’s handling of protests, including the #EndSARS demonstrations and the #EndBadGovernance movement, claiming that unemployment, economic hardship and dissatisfaction among young Nigerians contributed to growing frustration.
The colonel reportedly maintained that his alleged involvement was not primarily motivated by his career progression or a failed promotion.
According to the account, the movement was revived after Ma’aji failed for a second time to secure promotion to the rank of brigadier general in 2024. He reportedly said that following the failed promotion, some individuals began calling on him to revive the movement.
Ma’aji was quoted as telling investigators that the renewed push came from some members who believed there was a need to continue with the earlier plan.
He reportedly identified Lieutenant Colonel Shamsuddeen Bappah as one of the officers who was particularly active in efforts to revive the alleged movement.
According to Ma’aji’s account, Bappah travelled from Ibadan to Abuja to persuade him to continue with the plan. He also allegedly offered to sell a piece of land in Bauchi to raise funds for activities connected to the group.
Ma’aji further claimed that financial contributions were made by some members of the alleged group.
He reportedly told investigators that one Army major contributed N1 million, while another officer allegedly provided dollars on several occasions. Ma’aji also claimed that he sold three houses in Kaduna State and a student hostel at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, to raise money for activities associated with the group.
However, the property reportedly was not sold, according to the account contained in the documents.
The alleged movement reportedly involved meetings at different locations in Abuja. Ma’aji identified Brookville Hotel and Greenland Hotel in Lokogoma as among the venues where meetings allegedly took place.
According to his statement, the first of the renewed meetings occurred in late 2024 or early 2025, with largely the same group of officers attending subsequent gatherings. He also alleged that some new members were later brought into the group.
The account indicates that the discussions were not entirely new, as Ma’aji reportedly told investigators that the idea of military intervention had first emerged in 2023.
He said senior military authorities should have responded more forcefully to the deteriorating security situation at the time. The group subsequently began identifying officers who shared similar concerns.
Ma’aji reportedly described most of the officers involved as individuals who shared what he characterised as a strong sense of patriotism and a desire for positive change.The alleged plan has now become the subject of legal proceedings involving several military personnel and civilians.
Ma’aji and several serving military officers are reportedly facing proceedings before a General Court Martial, while six retired military personnel and civilians are being prosecuted separately at the Federal High Court in Abuja.The defendants have denied wrongdoing.
The allegations against Ma’aji and the other defendants remain subject to judicial scrutiny, meaning that the claims contained in investigative documents or statements attributed to individuals involved have not, by themselves, established criminal liability.
The reported investigation involved a large volume of material. Documents reviewed in connection with the case reportedly included thousands of pages of bank statements, hotel receipts, electronic communications, interrogation records and other materials assembled by military investigators.
According to the account, Ma’aji was arrested on September 29, 2025, shortly before the Federal Government cancelled the October 1 Independence Day celebration.
The reported details have renewed public attention on the allegations against the military officers and the circumstances surrounding the alleged movement.
The case also comes amid continuing public debates over Nigeria’s security situation, economic reforms and the relationship between civilian authorities and the military.
Fuel subsidy removal, exchange-rate reforms, taxation and electricity tariffs have remained controversial issues in Nigeria, with supporters arguing that reforms are necessary to address long-standing economic challenges, while critics have raised concerns about their effects on households and businesses.
Similarly, insecurity has remained a major concern across different parts of the country, placing pressure on security agencies and government authorities to protect citizens and communities.
The allegations attributed to Ma’aji therefore touch on several issues that have generated significant public debate in recent years.
However, the distinction between political or economic grievances and the alleged actions of individuals remains important. Disagreement with government policies does not, by itself, establish involvement in an unlawful attempt to remove a constitutional government.
The ongoing legal proceedings are expected to provide an opportunity for the allegations, evidence and responses of the defendants to be examined through the appropriate judicial and military processes.
Until the cases are determined, the claims against Ma’aji and the other accused persons remain allegations, and all defendants are entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence.
The revelations attributed to Ma’aji have nevertheless provided additional details about the alleged movement, including its reported origins, the reasons cited by participants, the meetings allegedly held and the financial resources reportedly discussed.
As the proceedings continue, further evidence may emerge concerning the nature of the alleged plan, the individuals involved and the extent to which the claims made during investigations can be substantiated.
The case remains significant because of the serious constitutional and national-security implications surrounding any alleged attempt to remove a democratically elected government through unconstitutional means.
For now, the allegations remain before the relevant courts and military authorities, where the evidence and competing accounts are expected to be tested.
Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji is among military officers facing proceedings over an alleged plot against the Nigerian government. According to statements attributed to him in investigative documents, discussions about military intervention began in 2023 and were later revived following concerns about insecurity, economic hardship and government policies. He has reportedly denied that his failed promotion was the principal reason for his alleged involvement. The defendants in the case have denied wrongdoing, while the allegations remain subject to judicial determination.
