Ayomide Awe
One of the military officers standing trial over the alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, has claimed that repeated denial of promotion and worsening welfare conditions in the Nigerian Army pushed him towards supporting an alleged plan to overthrow the government.
The claims were contained in interrogation statements reportedly obtained by Premium Times and published on Friday.
According to the documents, Ma’aji said his frustrations began after he failed to secure promotion to the rank of brigadier general despite believing he had met the requirements for advancement.
The officer also alleged that widespread dissatisfaction among serving personnel over insecurity, poor welfare and declining morale within the armed forces contributed to discussions about a possible military takeover.
He reportedly told investigators that he started canvassing support for the alleged plot in 2023 after becoming disillusioned with the military leadership’s handling of internal challenges.
Ma’aji, however, said security authorities had become aware of his activities as early as 2023 when he was invited by the Defence Intelligence Agency over allegations that politicians planned to use him to disrupt the 2023 general elections.
According to him, his mobile phone was seized for forensic examination before he was released without charges after investigators reportedly found no evidence linking him to the allegation.
“I was released with a verbal apology because there was no evidence,” he reportedly stated.
The colonel further claimed that his determination intensified after he was allegedly denied promotion for a second time in 2024.
He quoted some associates as urging him to revive the alleged movement out of fear that he could be compulsorily retired before attaining the rank of brigadier general.
Ma’aji was eventually arrested on September 29, 2025.
He alleged that senior military officers lured him into custody by inviting him to discuss his long-delayed promotion.
According to his account, he received a telephone call from the Chief of Staff to the then Chief of Army Staff directing him to report to House 12, Niger Barracks.
He further claimed that the then Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, personally called him, assuring him that his promotion issue would be addressed.
Believing the invitation was genuine, Ma’aji said he immediately travelled to the barracks.
He alleged that discussions initially centred on his career progression before he was asked to accompany the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye, to the Defence Intelligence Agency headquarters.
According to him, he was instead taken before the Director of Operations at the agency, where he was confronted with allegations of involvement in a coup plot.
The colonel said investigators questioned him over the alleged conspiracy involving other serving officers, including Lt. S.S. Felix and Lt. Col. Shamsuddeen Bappah.
He added that he initially denied involvement until he was informed that some of the other suspects had already been arrested while another had gone into hiding.
In his statement, Ma’aji appealed for leniency for the other suspects, insisting that their actions were motivated by what he described as patriotism rather than personal gain.
He also urged military authorities to improve the welfare of personnel, alleging that many officers face economic hardship, poor housing, inadequate welfare packages and declining morale.
The officer further called for the establishment of internal channels through which military personnel could raise grievances without fear of victimisation.
The alleged coup plot became public in October 2025 following reports that several serving and retired military officers had been arrested over an alleged plan to overthrow President Tinubu’s government.
Subsequently, the Defence Headquarters confirmed that investigations were ongoing and announced that serving military personnel implicated in the alleged conspiracy would face court martial, while retired officers and civilians would be prosecuted before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The case is still before the appropriate authorities, and the allegations against the defendants remain subject to judicial determination.
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