Alleged treason: Court accelerates trial of six suspects arrested by army, DSS.
Trial for Alleged Coup Plot Against Nigerian Government Begins
The prosecution commenced its case on Wednesday in the accelerated trial of six men accused of conspiring to overthrow the government led by President Bola Tinubu.
Four witnesses were called to testify, including a soldier from the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police (NACMP), who provided critical insights into how the alleged coup plot was uncovered.
The witness, referred to as “AAA” for security reasons, was part of the investigative team assembled after an intelligence report surfaced. This report outlined suspicions against Colonel M. A. Ma’aji and several others regarding a scheme to destabilize the government.
Under the guidance of Rotimi Oyedepo, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, the witness confirmed his familiarity with the six defendants, all of whom were arrested in relation to the plot involving Colonel Ma’aji and various military and civilian associates.
After receiving the intelligence report, the then Chief of Army Staff, General O. O. Oluyede, deemed the information credible and initiated an investigation. The witness recounted the subsequent arrest of Colonel Ma’aji, the seizure of his Samsung Galaxy phone, and the search of his residence, which yielded a jotter containing operational plans and names of individuals targeted for assassination.
Included in the jotter were details about proposed political and structural changes following the coup. Forensic analysis of the confiscated phone revealed extensive plans and connections between Colonel Ma’aji, other officers connected to the plot, and the defendants. The investigation also uncovered financial transactions linking Colonel Ma’aji with former Governor Timipre Sylva and some defendants.
The witness elaborated that the analysis of the phone revealed coded language used among the conspirators and financial trails supporting the coup. He identified a company named Purple Wave as a key player in financing the operation and provided details of financial records obtained from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Testimony indicated that significant funds were transferred among the conspirators for the coup, including multiple transactions in September and October 2025. The financial records showed large sums supposedly allocated for other purposes, which investigators traced back to coup-related activities.
Meetings among the alleged plotters were reportedly held at various locations in Abuja, including Greenland Apartment and BrookVille Hotel, where anti-government sentiments were exchanged. The witness outlined their plans to target key government officers and locations, highlighting their strategic intentions for implementing a regime change.
He detailed the scheduling of appointments and the division of responsibilities among the plotters. Furthermore, the witness revealed that preparations included purchasing vehicles retrofitted for attack purposes.
Following his testimony, Oyedepo sought to introduce a letter and payment receipts from BrookVille Hotel into evidence, encountering objections from the defendants’ counsel. Nonetheless, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik admitted the documents.
Additional evidence was also presented, including statements from the defendants taken during the investigation. All defendants, except for one, Abdulkadir Sani, provided statements that were audio-visual recorded.
In earlier proceedings, the prosecution called Compliance Officers from Jaiz Bank, SunTrust Bank, and a Legal Officer from Providus Bank to provide account statements linked to the defendants and the Purple Wave company.
The hearing has been adjourned until May 4 and 5, at 11 a.m., when the fourth prosecution witness is expected to continue testimony.
