The Nigerian Army on Wednesday confirmed before the Federal High Court in Abuja that there was an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu through a coup d’état.
A soldier from the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police, whose identity was shielded by court order, testified as the fourth prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of six alleged masterminds of the plot. The witness, identified only as “AAA,” told the court he was part of the investigative team that uncovered the alleged conspiracy.
The defendants in the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026, include retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, serving Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, as well as Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.
Also mentioned in the charge filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation is former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva, who is reportedly at large after allegedly leaving the country before the plot was exposed.
Testifying under examination by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the witness said investigations began after the then Chief of Army Staff, General O. O. Oluyede, received intelligence indicating that Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others were planning to overthrow the democratically elected government.
According to the witness, the intelligence report was analysed and deemed credible, prompting the army leadership to order a full-scale investigation. He told the court that the defendants were arrested based on their alleged connections to the plot involving Col. Ma’aji, other serving officers, and civilians.
He further disclosed that during the arrest of Col. Ma’aji, investigators recovered a Samsung Galaxy phone and a jotter from his residence. The jotter, he said, contained operational plans, names and designations of key government officials, and a list of officers allegedly marked for assassination.
“Inside the jotter, we also found information about political and structural changes that were to be made upon the execution of the coup,” the witness told the court.
The witness added that forensic analysis of the recovered phone revealed detailed plans linking the defendants and other collaborators. According to him, investigators discovered financial trails connecting Col. Ma’aji, some of the defendants, and former Governor Sylva.
“We also found financial trails between Ma’aji, former Governor Timipre Sylva and some of the defendants before this court,” he said.
He further told the court that coded communications were found on the device, suggesting coordinated activities among the alleged plotters. Financial transactions, he said, indicated that funds were disbursed to some of the defendants in furtherance of the alleged coup.
The witness also revealed that a company identified as Purple Wave was allegedly used as a conduit for financing the plot. Financial records, obtained with assistance from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), showed multiple transactions running into hundreds of millions of naira.
He cited several transactions recorded in September and October 2025, including debits of N100 million, N50 million, N80 million, N70 million, and N90 million on different dates. Although some transactions were described as payments for legitimate services, investigators concluded that the funds were diverted for the alleged coup operation.
The witness also told the court that meetings were held at locations including Green Land Apartment and BrookVille Hotel in Abuja, where discussions allegedly centred on regime change.
“They discussed negative things about the government and concluded that there was the need for a regime change,” he said.
According to him, the alleged plotters mapped out strategic targets, including military barracks housing senior officers, and planned to seize key roads and infrastructure during the execution of the coup. He added that roles and appointments were allegedly shared among members of the group in anticipation of a successful takeover.
The court heard that investigators also recovered receipts for hotel bookings linked to the meetings. Despite objections from defence counsel over admissibility, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik admitted the documents as exhibits.
The witness further stated that the defendants made voluntary written statements before a special investigative panel and the Military Police, with sessions recorded audiovisually. A flash drive containing these recordings was tendered in court, though the defence raised objections over procedural issues.
Justice Abdulmalik directed the prosecution to serve the defence with the exhibits before they could be played in open court.
Earlier, the court granted an application by the Federal Government to shield the identities of certain witnesses due to the sensitive nature of the case. The prosecution argued that such protection was necessary to prevent potential threats.
While the defence did not oppose the application outright, it argued that complete anonymity could affect fair hearing. The court, however, ruled that protective measures were justified, allowing witness identities to be concealed in public records.
The case, which involves allegations of treason, terrorism, money laundering, and failure to disclose security intelligence, has been adjourned to May 4 and 5 for continuation of hearing.
The Federal Government alleges that the defendants conspired in September 2025 to wage war against the state and destabilise the government, an offence punishable under Nigerian law. They were also accused of failing to report the alleged plot and of providing support to its execution.
All six defendants pleaded not guilty to the 13-count charge when they were arraigned on April 22. They are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services pending the determination of the case.
