Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, a key suspect in the alleged coup plot against President Tinubu, told investigators that repeated denial of promotion to brigadier general drove him to canvass for a military takeover, and revealed he was lured into custody through a fake promotion meeting.
Colonel Behind Alleged Tinubu Coup Plot Says Failed Promotion Pushed Him
A promotion denied, a coup plotted — that’s the story Colonel Ma’aji is telling investigators. Per Sahara Reporters, documents obtained by Premium Times show he began agitating for a takeover in 2023, citing worsening insecurity and poor military welfare, with his resolve hardening after a second failed promotion bid in 2024.
Ma’aji claimed he was lured to Niger Barracks by then Army Chief Olufemi Oluyede under the pretext of discussing his promotion, before being handed over to the Defence Intelligence Agency and questioned over the alleged plot. He was arrested on September 29, 2025, and has since appealed for leniency for his co-accused, insisting their actions stemmed from patriotism.
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