Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji, accused of being a central figure in an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration, has told investigators that patriotism, economic hardship, and concern over Nigeria’s deteriorating condition motivated his actions.
Ma’aji said he was driven by what he described as poor governance, worsening living conditions and the declining welfare of Nigerian soldiers, rather than personal ambition.
“What has happened has a very long history, and it is driven by patriotism and I love the job and country,” he said, according to Premium Times.
“As we are all sitting down here, we have our biases and our thoughts and concerns on what was going on in our country from a state of gradual decline up to now, and we are almost at the point of collapse.”
The colonel said his personal struggles as a father of five had also shaped his concerns about the state of the country.
“Every time I look at how I’m struggling to raise 5 children with my meager salary, I get worried,” he said.
“I attended Army Day Secondary School, but today, how many of us afford to take our children to these schools, and for one reason or another, which is connected to the bad governance.”
Ma’aji also raised concerns about the welfare of military personnel, particularly soldiers wounded in combat.
He alleged that some injured soldiers receiving treatment at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna were not being adequately cared for.
According to him, the situation reflected broader welfare problems within the armed forces and reinforced his belief that urgent changes were needed.
“The summary of all this is that this action was driven by the desire to have a prosperous nation and country that we all can be proud of. It got to a point that I was worried that if nothing is done, we may not have a country to call our own in the near future,” he said.
‘There was no D-Day’
Ma’aji said the alleged plan was still at the mobilization stage when he was arrested and had not reached the point of execution.
He said the group intended to recruit military officers who shared its concerns about the country’s direction.
“Nigeria was turning into a banana republic right before our eyes. We know that during the military regime, the country was functioning better. I believe that, as it is now, we are on a dangerous trajectory,” he added.
“The plan was to get enough officers of like minds who could participate. We were still in the process of mobilizing more officers.
“This team has not been fully formed because there were supposed to be other meetings. There was no D-Day. We were waiting for the availability of resources and more officers and soldiers.”
Ma’aji said he personally financed much of the alleged mobilization, while former Bayelsa State governor and former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, contributed about ₦400 million.
He denied foreign involvement and said no final date had been fixed for the alleged operation.
The colonel also denied having contacted any senior military officers but said that widespread dissatisfaction among soldiers and unsuccessful promotion attempts had contributed to the movement’s revival.
He called for the establishment of a formal channel for military officers to raise concerns with the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, without fear of victimization.
He also advocated improved pay and welfare packages for soldiers, better pension benefits, access to education and stronger measures against corruption within the country and the military.
Ma’aji further criticized the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that the policy should have been phased out gradually.
Plea for pardon
Following his arrest and interaction with the investigative panel, Ma’aji said he had reconsidered his approach and appealed to the authorities for leniency.
“From the time I have been arrested till now, If I were to be released and these issues in the country persist, I will consider a different approach,” he said.
“We are pleading for leniency and pardon as first offenders. The system should take a deep breath and pardon us. They should give us a chance to mend our ways. We have no other country than Nigeria and no other job.
“This incident has really opened our eyes and has changed our mindset forever. It was not intended to destabilize the country at all. Everything we planned was born out of patriotism, love of country, and the desire to have a prosperous Nigeria that we all can be proud of.”
Alleged plot enters court
The alleged coup plot came to public attention after the arrest of military officers in late September 2025.
The development was initially presented by the military as an internal disciplinary matter, while reports linking the arrests to a coup plot were denied.
The Defense Headquarters later acknowledged in January 2026 that its investigation had identified some of the officers as having allegations of plotting to overthrow the government.
The alleged plot was also linked to the cancellation of the 1 October 2025 Independence Day military parade.
At the time, however, the Defense Headquarters denied that the cancellation was connected to a coup plot, saying it was to enable President Tinubu to attend a strategic bilateral meeting abroad and allow the armed forces to maintain operations against terrorism, insurgency, and banditry.
The case has since moved beyond military investigations.
In April 2026, the Federal Government filed a 13-count charge against six people over the alleged plot, accusing them of offenses including treason, terrorism, terrorism financing, and failure to disclose information.
The defendants include retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.
Sylva was also named in the court documents but remained at large, according to prosecutors.
Ma’aji himself has not been listed among the six defendants in that Federal High Court charge. However, prosecutors have identified him as a central figure in the alleged conspiracy.
An army witness later told the court that intelligence reports had linked Ma’aji to an alleged conspiracy involving serving and retired military officers and civilians.
In April, Ma’aji separately sued the Federal Government at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking his release and ₦500 million in damages over his continued detention. He argued that his detention since September 2025 without being charged before a competent court violated his fundamental rights.
The allegations against the accused persons have yet to be finally determined by the courts.
