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Why I Joined Alleged Coup Plot Against Tinubu — Colonel Ma’aji
Nigerian Army Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji has revealed why he allegedly became involved in a plot to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government, citing insecurity, corruption, economic hardship and concerns over the welfare of military personnel.
Premium Times reported how the alleged plot was discussed, funded and later revived before security agencies disrupted it in September 2025.
Ma’aji is among several serving military officers currently facing proceedings before a General Court Martial over the alleged plot. Six retired military personnel and civilians are also being prosecuted separately before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
All the defendants have denied wrongdoing.
In a statement attributed to Ma’aji during interrogation, he said discussions about military intervention began in 2023, towards the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
According to his account, the discussions were driven by concerns over the worsening security situation, corruption, poor governance and growing economic difficulties in the country.
Ma’aji said he and others believed Nigeria was heading towards a dangerous situation and began identifying military officers who shared their concerns about the state of the nation.
He said the initial plan did not progress because the group lacked sufficient funds, manpower and logistics.
The colonel reportedly said he personally financed some of the activities by selling properties and receiving contributions from members.
He allegedly sold three houses in Kaduna State and a student hostel at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, to raise funds for activities linked to the group.
Failed Promotion and Revival of Alleged Plot
The alleged movement was later revived after Ma’aji failed to secure promotion to brigadier general for the second time in 2024.
He said some officers contacted him following the failed promotion and urged him to revive the plan.
Lieutenant Colonel Shamsuddeen Bappah was identified as one of the officers who allegedly pushed for the revival.
According to the documents, Bappah travelled from Ibadan to Abuja to meet Ma’aji and discuss the matter.
He was also reportedly considering selling a plot of land in Bauchi to raise funds, although the property was not eventually sold.
Following the alleged revival, meetings were held at different locations in Abuja, including Brookville Hotel and Greenland Hotel in Lokogoma.
Ma’aji said the meetings involved some officers who had participated in the earlier discussions, while additional individuals were also introduced.
He, however, denied that his failed promotion was the main reason for the alleged plan.
Instead, he cited several national policies and challenges, including the removal of fuel subsidy, naira reforms, taxation, electricity tariffs, corruption and insecurity.
He also referred to the #EndSARS and #EndBadGovernance protests, saying the demonstrations reflected the level of frustration among Nigerians over unemployment, economic hardship and poor living conditions.
Concerns Over Military Welfare
Ma’aji also raised concerns about the welfare of members of the armed forces.
He reportedly complained about military salaries, the treatment of wounded soldiers, housing, healthcare and the condition of retired personnel.
He said he was particularly concerned about soldiers who sustained injuries during military operations and were allegedly left without adequate support.
The documents further revealed allegations that the group attempted to recruit more officers, soldiers and civilians.
Some individuals were reportedly approached through existing relationships, while meetings were allegedly used to discuss possible roles within the movement.
Ma’aji also spoke about an alleged proposal to mobilise members of the Civilian Joint Task Force from the North-East.
He said the idea was to bring some of the personnel to Abuja, although the plan was not fully developed.
No Fixed Date for Alleged Coup
Ma’aji maintained that there was no fixed date for the alleged coup because the group was still trying to secure additional resources and recruit more personnel.
According to his account, the alleged operation was expected to take place at night and involved plans to place some senior military officials under arrest.
However, he said preparations had not reached the point of execution when security agencies intervened.
Ma’aji named several serving and retired officers while discussing the alleged movement. He also denied the involvement of some people mentioned during the investigation, saying certain officers had merely been informed about the discussions.
Arrest and Court Proceedings
The alleged plot came under security investigation after Ma’aji was arrested on September 29, 2025, shortly before the Federal Government cancelled the October 1 Independence Day parade.
He was subsequently interrogated between October 18, 2025, and February 19, 2026, according to records cited in the investigation.
The Defence Headquarters initially described the detention of the officers as an internal process aimed at maintaining discipline within the military.
It later confirmed that an alleged plot had been uncovered and said officers found culpable would face military judicial proceedings.
By February, about 40 serving and retired military personnel, police officers and civilians had reportedly been arrested or questioned in connection with the investigation.
In April, the Federal Government filed 13 charges against six defendants before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Those charged include retired Major-General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Presidential Villa electrician Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Islamic cleric Abdulkadir Sani.
The defendants pleaded not guilty.
Several serving officers, including Ma’aji, are facing separate court-martial proceedings.
The admissibility of statements obtained during the investigation has also become an issue in the cases.
Some defendants have challenged the statements attributed to them, arguing that they were not made voluntarily.
The prosecution has rejected the claims, maintaining that proper procedures were followed.
The court consequently ordered a trial-within-trial to determine whether the disputed statements were made voluntarily before deciding whether they could be admitted as evidence.
Sylva Denies Funding Allegation
Meanwhile, former Bayelsa State governor Timipre Sylva has denied allegations that he financed the alleged plot.
Sylva, who served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under Buhari, said through his spokesperson that he had no involvement in planning or providing logistics for any coup attempt.
Five people linked to him are facing separate charges over allegations that they concealed his whereabouts, while nine properties associated with him are under an interim forfeiture order.
The allegations contained in Ma’aji’s statement remain subject to judicial proceedings, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the courts.
IBADAN — Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, has denied claims by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that the Federal Government provided ₦50 billion to the state for the upgrade of the Ladoke Akintola International Airport, Ibadan.
Makinde made the denial on Tuesday while addressing supporters and stakeholders at the Makinde/Daura 2027 Presidential Town Hall meeting in Katsina.
The governor said the Federal Government did not give either him or the Oyo State Government ₦50 billion for the airport project, insisting that the ongoing expansion and rehabilitation works were being financed entirely by the state.
“My attention was drawn to an interview granted yesterday by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, where he said that the President gave N50 billion to Oyo State to upgrade the Ibadan Airport to international standards,” Makinde said.
“I want to say that claim is false. The President did not give me or Oyo State N50 billion to upgrade the Ibadan Airport. The Ibadan Airport upgrade project is being undertaken 100 per cent with the funds of Oyo State.”
Wike had made the ₦50 billion claim during an appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout programme on Monday, saying the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government had supported the Oyo airport project.
The disagreement centres on the source and nature of funding for the airport’s ongoing upgrade.
Public records from Oyo State indicate that the state had previously identified the Ibadan Airport expansion as one of the projects to be financed through its infrastructure funding plans. The state government has also said that its airport proposal received presidential approval without financial obligations being placed on the Federal Government.
However, the competing claims by Wike and Makinde have not, so far, been accompanied by publicly released financial documents conclusively establishing whether a ₦50 billion Federal Government allocation or transfer was made specifically for the airport project.
The dispute comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s emerging political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Makinde seeking the presidency on the APM platform while Wike remains a serving Federal Government minister.
Further clarification from the Federal Government, Oyo State Government, or relevant financial and aviation authorities could help establish the precise source and amount of funding committed to the Ibadan airport project.
Two days after reports circulated online that the Umuahia Premier Club, Umuahia Branch had endorsed the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency, Hon. Obi Aguocha for a second term, the Club has debunked the report, describing the purported endorsement as unauthorised and a departure from its non-partisan traditions.
In a rejoinder issued on Sunday and signed by its Branch Chairman, Premier Ako Obioma, and Branch Secretary, Premier Chuka Agomoh, the club said its attention had been drawn to a purported endorsement of a candidate contesting for elective political office on the platform of a particular political party.
The leadership said the club is, by its founding philosophy, a socio-cultural, non-partisan and unifying organisation established to foster fraternity, mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, cultural solidarity, and the collective advancement of its members and communities.
“It is therefore not the character, tradition or mandate of the Club to adopt or endorse partisan political candidates,” the statement read.
The club said the purported endorsement constituted a significant departure from its established traditions and ethos, warning that it could generate avoidable disaffection, suspicion, and division among members who are entitled to hold divergent political preferences.
“It is acknowledged that the candidate purportedly endorsed is a member of the Club and is entitled, like every other citizen, to participate in the political process and pursue his legitimate political aspirations. However, membership of the Club cannot, in itself, constitute a basis for transforming the Club into a political platform or committing the collective identity of the Club to the political ambition of any individual member,” the statement said.
The club clarified that the gathering held on Sunday, September 20, 2026, was convened as its monthly general meeting and not as a political meeting or a forum authorised to deliberate upon and endorse a political candidate.
It noted that the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Legal Adviser, and four National officers from the branch were reportedly absent from the meeting, adding that the circumstances under which the purported endorsement was made required careful scrutiny.
“It is particularly disturbing that the meeting took place at the residence of the candidate concerned, thereby creating circumstances in which his political associates and party supporters were able to take advantage of the gathering to introduce and advance a partisan agenda that was neither part of the scheduled business of the Club nor sanctioned by its leadership,” the statement read.
The club further said a considerable number of those present were either relatively new members or persons not yet sufficiently conversant with its established procedures and conventions.
“In view of the foregoing, the purported endorsement, to the extent that it purports to represent the collective position of the Club or its Branch, is hereby expressly repudiated, condemned and declared unacceptable,” the statement said.
It warned that appropriate disciplinary measures would be taken against any member found to have deliberately misrepresented the position of the club, acted without authority, or brought its name into disrepute.
The club also reiterated that only the Chairman, Secretary, and Public Relations Officer are authorised to issue or circulate official publications on behalf of the club or the branch, adding that the Secretary and PRO must obtain the requisite approval of the Branch Chairman before issuing any official publication.
“Therefore, anyone who circulated or posted the purported endorsement should as a matter of urgency pull it down immediately,” the statement directed.
The club declared all publications, statements, endorsements or communications already circulated in connection with the purported endorsement as null, void, and of no effect, advising members and the general public to disregard them.
It called on members to remain calm, exercise restraint, and refrain from any action or publication capable of exacerbating the situation, stressing that the club’s unity, integrity, and continued cohesion remain paramount.
“Our political affiliations may differ; our cultural heritage unites us. Our individual political ambitions may vary; the collective interest of our Club and our clans must remain sacrosanct,” the statement concluded.
Enugu Air has launched a new official website, moving its online services to www.enuguairlines.ng.
The airline announced the development in a statement informing passengers and customers of the change, describing the new platform as a safer and more convenient digital channel for accessing its services.
Announcing the migration, Enugu Air said: “We’ve moved! We’re innovating! We’ve migrated to a better, safer and convenient website to connect you to the world.”
According to the airline, the new website will serve as its digital platform for flight bookings, schedules and operational updates.
Passengers and prospective travellers can now visit www.enuguairlines.ng to book flights, check schedules and access the latest information about the airline’s operations.
Enugu Air urged customers to save the new web address and use it for all online flight-related services.
The airline stressed that the change would not affect its identity or services, stating: “Same Enugu Air. New web address.”
It also warned passengers that its former website, enuguairlines.com, had been discontinued and was no longer in use.
The airline therefore advised customers to use www.enuguairlines.ng for its current online services and flight-related information.
The Enugu State House of Assembly, on Monday, called for urgent government intervention following a landslide that cut off Ugwueme and Nenwenta communities in Awgu Local Government Area from other parts of the state.
The Assembly urged the Enugu State Government, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Ecological Fund to urgently mobilise resources to address the situation and restore access to the affected communities.
The landslide, which occurred on September 18 following torrential rainfall, reportedly blocked the road linking the two communities, forcing residents to pass through neighbouring Abia and Imo states to access other parts of Enugu State.
Moving a motion of urgent public importance, the member representing Awgu South State Constituency, Hon. Anthony Nwankwo, said the disaster had paralysed movement and made emergency response difficult in the affected communities.
Nwankwo also revealed that a family of four reportedly died after a collapsed overhead water tank crushed them, leaving only a four-year-old child who was subsequently rescued.
He lamented that the victims might have been rescued alive if the road leading to the communities had remained accessible.
Nwankwo therefore urged the Assembly to prevail on the relevant authorities to urgently clear the road and restore access to Ugwueme and Nenwenta.
“I move that the House do write the relevant authorities to intervene to open the road leading to Ugwueme and Nenwenta,” he said.
Supporting the motion, lawmakers expressed sympathy with Nwankwo and residents of the affected communities, describing the incident as a serious natural disaster requiring immediate intervention.
Members representing Ezeagu, Nkanu East and Oji River State Constituencies, Hon. Chima Obieze, Hon. Okey Mba and Hon. Osita Eze, respectively, also urged residents to avoid constructing buildings close to hills and engaging in indiscriminate excavation of soil and stones.
They warned that such activities could worsen the risk of landslides.
The lawmakers, however, stressed that government agencies should immediately mobilise resources to clear the affected road and restore access to the communities.
Assembly Confirms Civil Service Commission Nominees
Meanwhile, the Assembly screened and confirmed the appointment of a chairman and four members of the Enugu State Civil Service Commission nominated by Governor Peter Mbah.
The nominees are Prof. Gabriel Ajah as Chairman; Christian Mbah, Member 1; Mrs. Stella Ekweremadu, Member 2; Mrs. Emmanuela Uzonna Ogarabe, Member 3; and Mrs. Theresa Ifeanyichukwu Onyefuzili, Member 4.
The nominees were subsequently confirmed after the lawmakers found them qualified for the positions.
They were asked to take a bow and leave without undergoing prolonged screening after presenting their curriculum vitae and professional records to the Assembly.
Speaking on behalf of the nominees, Ajah pledged that punctuality and discipline would be central to the commission under his leadership.
“We shall lead by example. We must be punctual to work,” he said.
Before his appointment, Ajah had served the Enugu State Government in various capacities, including 19 years as Permanent Secretary and 14 years as Dean of Permanent Secretaries.
He also served as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chairman of the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), among other positions.
The Federal Government has sealed a deal for the acquisition of 12 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters from US-based Bell Textron as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s airpower and security capabilities.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, led a Nigerian Air Force delegation to a beam-signing ceremony at Bell Textron’s facility in Amarillo, Texas, marking a major milestone in the Nigeria-US defence cooperation programme.
According to a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the acquisition is aimed at modernising the Armed Forces and enhancing their capacity to respond to security threats.
Aneke described the acquisition as an important milestone in efforts to build a more capable and mission-ready Nigerian Air Force.
He said the programme would support the NAF’s objective of developing a highly motivated and professional force capable of delivering effective airpower in coordination with ground forces.
The Chief of Air Staff also stressed the need to ensure that the newly acquired capabilities translated into improved operational effectiveness and stronger support for Nigeria’s national security objectives.
Aneke thanked President Bola Tinubu for what he described as his strategic leadership and support for strengthening Nigeria’s defence architecture.
He also acknowledged the cooperation of the United States Government, Bell Textron, Programme Management Air 276 and other stakeholders involved in the AH-1Z Viper programme.
During the visit, the Nigerian delegation inspected the AH-1Z Viper production line at the Bell Textron facility.
The development comes six days after the Nigerian Air Force took delivery of five new helicopters—three AW-109 Trekker B helicopters manufactured by Leonardo Helicopters of Italy and two H-125 helicopters manufactured by Airbus Helicopters.
The latest acquisition forms part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to modernise Nigeria’s military airpower and strengthen its response to terrorism, banditry and other security challenges.
Source: Punch Newspapers�
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