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Colonel Behind Alleged Tinubu Coup Plot Admits Failed Promotion Pushed Him, Reveals How He Was Lured By Army Chiefs
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Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, one of the principal suspects standing trial over the alleged failed coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, has told investigators that repeated denial of promotion to the rank of brigadier general pushed him towards plotting to overthrow the government.
According to statements made by the officer during interrogation, Ma’aji said he first began canvassing support for a military takeover in 2023 after becoming frustrated with what he described as the military hierarchy’s failure to address worsening insecurity and the poor welfare of serving and retired personnel.
The documents, obtained by Premium Times, indicate that the Niger State-born officer claimed his agitation began towards the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration after he failed to secure promotion despite believing he deserved advancement.
He also alleged that concerns about deteriorating conditions within the armed forces and dissatisfaction among officers contributed to the decision.
Ma’aji disclosed that military authorities had become aware of his activities as early as 2023.
According to Premium Times, he said he was invited to the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) that year over allegations that politicians intended to use him to disrupt the 2023 general elections.
According to him, his mobile phone was confiscated for forensic examination before he was released.
“I was released with a verbal apology because there was no evidence,” he stated in one of the interrogation statements.
The officer, however, said his resolve hardened after he was again denied promotion 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 told investigators.
“They were afraid that I might be retired prematurely and that all of us will regret it.”
Ma’aji was eventually arrested on September 29, 2025, after what he described as an elaborate operation by senior military authorities who allegedly exploited his desire for promotion to lure him into custody.
In his statement, the colonel said he received a telephone call from the Chief of Staff to the then Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, directing him to report to House 12 at the Niger Barracks.
He added that Oluyede personally telephoned him shortly afterwards, urging him to come quickly because they needed to discuss his long-delayed promotion.
According to Ma’aji, the Army chief also asked whether he had spoken with retired Major General A. Mohammed, popularly known as “Bandect,” strengthening his belief that the invitation was genuinely related to his promotion.
“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.
Unknown to him, investigators said the alleged coup planning had already reached an advanced stage, with operational strategies, fundraising plans, weapons mobilisation and logistics arrangements reportedly mapped out.
Ma’aji claimed that during the meeting, discussions initially focused on his delayed promotion.
According to him, the Army chief questioned him about his service record, course grades and assured him that he would be promoted before the meeting allegedly took a dramatic turn.
He said the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Undiandeye, arrived and instructed him to accompany him to his office to collect a message for retired Major General Bandect.
Ma’aji further claimed that before leaving, Oluyede handed him $1000 as welfare support and directed him to accompany the intelligence chief.
Believing he was merely delivering a message, he said he drove behind the Defence Intelligence chief to the DIA headquarters.
However, upon arrival, he said he was taken to the office of Brigadier General Nicholas Ashinze, Director of Operations at the DIA, where he was immediately questioned over the alleged coup plot.
“It was there he started asking me about the plot involving myself, Lt. Felix, Lt. Col. Bappah and others,” Ma’aji stated.
The officer said he initially denied any knowledge of the alleged conspiracy until investigators informed him that one of the alleged co-conspirators, Lieutenant S.S. Felix, had already been arrested while Lieutenant Colonel Shamsuddeen Bappah had gone into hiding.
“That was how the investigation commenced on 29 September 2025 till today,” he added.
In the same statement, Ma’aji appealed for leniency for the other suspects, insisting that they had realised their mistakes during the investigation.
He claimed the alleged actions were motivated by patriotism and a desire to improve Nigeria rather than personal gain.
He also urged authorities to improve the welfare of military personnel, describing conditions within the armed forces as dire.
According to him, officers and soldiers face severe economic hardship, inadequate housing, poor welfare packages and declining morale, warning that frustration continues to grow within the ranks.
He further called on military authorities to establish internal mechanisms through which officers could safely air grievances without fear of victimisation.
The alleged coup plot first came to public attention in October 2025 after SaharaReporters exclusively reported that 16 senior military officers had been arrested over an alleged plan to overthrow President Tinubu’s government.
Subsequent investigations expanded the list of suspects to include serving military officers, retired officers, civilians, a police inspector and a Presidential Villa worker accused of assisting with reconnaissance activities.
Following months of investigation, the Defence Headquarters acknowledged the existence of the alleged plot and announced that serving military personnel implicated in the conspiracy would face court martial, while retired officers and civilians would be prosecuted before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The alleged conspiracy also triggered significant changes within the military hierarchy, including the cancellation of Nigeria’s October 1 Independence Day parade and a major reshuffle of the Armed Forces’ top command.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Gianni Infantino was “the wrong man” to lead Fifa after a senior adviser to the president resigned and a third confederation opposed his plan to sell stakes in competitions to private investors.
Burnham was critical of the proposal when it was first announced, and told reporters on Friday: “This was an outrageous suggestion.
“The idea that it could even be brought forward shows that, in my view, [he] is the wrong man to lead the organisation.”
Burnham was speaking hours after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said it “stands in solidarity” with counterparts in Europe and North, Central America and the Caribbean.
The AFC added Infantino’s plan could not “realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward”.
“The Fifa World Cup is the pinnacle of global football and derives its strength from the participation of all Confederations and the world’s leading football nations,” it said.
“Any proposal that risks undermining the unity and universal character of the competition must be reconsidered.”
Shortly after that statement, Carlos Cordeiro – Infantino’s senior adviser on global strategy and governance – resigned, saying the proposal was “a bad deal for football” and would “mortgage football’s future”.
The AFC’s statement means Infantino’s plans are unlikely to be approved by Fifa members if put to a vote.
Infantino had indicated the proposals would need a straight majority to go through – meaning 106 of its 211 members needed to vote in favour for the proposal.
Uefa – the body that governs European football – has 55 votes. Concacaf, which oversees football in North, Central America and the Caribbean, has 35 and Asia has 46.
Should all member associations back the stance of their governing body, that would mean 136 nations are against Infantino’s plan.
•BBC Sports
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced the death of its Enugu State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Franklin Agbakoba.
Agbakoba passed away on Thursday, July 30, while receiving medical treatment at the Niger Foundation Hospital in Enugu, bringing an end to his service with the road safety agency.
The sad development was confirmed in a statement issued on Friday by the Deputy Corps Commander in charge of Operations in Enugu State, Kyrian Okolo.
“The FRSC Enugu State Sector Command received the sad news of the demise of Corps Commander Franklin Agbakoba on Thursday, 30 July,” the statement read.
According to the FRSC, the late sector commander’s remains have been deposited at the Eastern Medical Centre in Enugu.News
The agency, however, did not disclose the nature of the illness that led to his death or provide further details surrounding the circumstances of his passing.
Until his death, Agbakoba was widely recognised for his commitment to improving road safety and strengthening collaboration among security, emergency response and other relevant agencies operating in Enugu State.
During his tenure, he championed initiatives aimed at enhancing inter-agency cooperation, reducing road traffic crashes and promoting public awareness on road safety regulations.
The FRSC also credited him with fostering strategic partnerships that contributed to the advancement of road safety campaigns and the effective delivery of its mandate across the state.
His death has been described as a significant loss to the Corps, colleagues and stakeholders in the transportation and emergency response sectors who worked closely with him during his time in office.
Further announcements regarding funeral arrangements are expected to be made by the family and the Federal Road Safety Corps in due course.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed claims by the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that it manually submitted its list of candidates for the 2027 general elections, including the nomination of former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate.Executive Branch
The electoral body reiterated that political parties are required to submit the names of their candidates exclusively through its designated electronic nomination portal, casting doubt on the faction’s assertion that it resorted to manual submission after allegedly being denied access to the system.
INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Ita-Messi, made the clarification in an interview with Leadership in Abuja on Friday while responding to the claims made by the PDP faction.
Although she declined to confirm whether any documents had been received from the group, Ita-Messi stressed that the commission has a clearly defined procedure for the submission of candidates’ names.
“I am not in a position to confirm that to you, but can only tell you that there are procedures for submitting the names of political parties’ candidates to the INEC portal,” she said.
She also questioned the consistency of the faction’s claims, noting that it was contradictory to allege being denied access to the electronic platform while simultaneously claiming to have successfully submitted a list of candidates.
“If the faction claimed that they were denied access to the code, how did they submit the list of their candidates to the commission?” Ita-Messi asked.
INEC’s response comes a day after the Kabiru Turaki-led faction held a press conference in Abuja, where it announced that it had submitted its list of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The faction claimed the list included former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate, alongside nominees for governorship, National Assembly and state House of Assembly positions.
According to the group, it adopted the manual submission process after the commission allegedly refused to provide the access codes required to upload candidates through INEC’s electronic portal.
The faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, maintained that the manual submission complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 despite the alleged denial of access to the online platform.
Ememobong also accused INEC of failing to remain neutral in the ongoing leadership dispute within the PDP, alleging that the commission had ignored relevant facts and judicial decisions relating to the party’s internal crisis.
The leadership tussle within the PDP has produced rival groups laying claim to the party’s national structure, with both sides seeking recognition from the electoral commission ahead of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
INEC, however, has consistently maintained that political parties must comply with its established guidelines and statutory procedures for the nomination and submission of candidates.
UK PM Burnham slams Infantino, says he’s the ‘wrong man’ to lead FIFA
SAD: FRSC Enugu Sector Commander Is Dead
INEC Rejects PDP’s Submission Of Jonathan As 2027 Presidential Candidate
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