As Nigeria approached the presidential handover on 29 May 2023, a faction within the military was allegedly plotting to derail the democratic process and target senior political figures.
The conspirators reportedly intended to violently disrupt the transfer of power from former President Muhammadu Buhari to President Bola Tinubu. The scheme was allegedly orchestrated by Colonel Alhassan Ma’aji, service number N/10668. A Nupe from Niger State, Ma’aji was born on 1 March 1976, began military training on 18 August 1995, and completed it on 16 September 2000.
The coup was initially planned for the inauguration day but was postponed due to insufficient funds and logistical challenges. The plot resurfaced in 2025 after former Bayelsa State governor Timipre Sylva, accused of financing the scheme, allegedly transferred nearly N1 billion in multiple tranches to accounts operated by a Bureau De Change. Sylva, 61, from Brass Local Government Area, was later declared wanted by the EFCC. Soldiers had previously raided his home during investigations, but he denied involvement in any coup attempt.
The Alleged Mastermind
Colonel Ma’aji, an infantry officer, rose to lieutenant colonel in 2013 and full colonel in 2017. At the time of the plot, he commanded the 19 Battalion in Okitipupa, Ondo State. He participated in Operation Crocodile Smile II in 2017 to tackle security challenges in the Niger Delta and South-west, and also served as Commander of Operation Delta Safe. Ma’aji attended the 47 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Targets and Plans
The conspirators allegedly aimed to assassinate President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, along with service chiefs and other key military commanders. Certain officers were reportedly tasked with seizing control of the Presidential Villa, Niger Barracks, Armed Forces Complex, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Foiling the Plot
The scheme was uncovered through a covert intelligence operation led by the Army Headquarters and the State Security Service (SSS). According to PREMIUM TIMES, the plot began to unravel in late September 2025 when an anonymous officer informed the then Chief of Army Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, fearing prosecution as an accessory if he stayed silent.
Intelligence from the SSS independently indicated that serving officers intended to destabilise the government. Director-General Oluwatosin Ajayi reportedly briefed Oluyede personally. With corroborating intelligence, a joint operation was launched, leading to coordinated arrests nationwide.
President Tinubu was briefed following the initial detentions. He promptly cancelled the 1 October Independence Day parade and approved the formation of a special investigative panel, headed by Chief of Defence Intelligence Emmanuel Undiandeye, which resulted in further arrests. One detained officer briefly escaped but was recaptured in Bauchi. Meanwhile, retired General Adamu and former governor Sylva, accused of financing the plot, remain at large.
The aftermath included the dismissal of then Chief of Defence Staff General Musa and the chiefs of the Navy and Air Force. Oluyede was appointed CDS and promoted to General, while Musa later returned as Minister of Defence.
Statements issued on 4 and 18 October 2025 confirmed that 16 officers were under investigation for indiscipline and breaches of service regulations, with preliminary findings pointing to grievances over career stagnation and failed promotions. On 26 January, the military publicly acknowledged that a plot to overthrow the government had existed and confirmed that the officers involved would face a military judicial panel.
The Defence Headquarters emphasised that the investigation was “comprehensive” and aligned with military procedures, ultimately identifying officers whose actions were “inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
