Federal prosecutors on Wednesday began presenting their case in the fast-tracked trial of six men accused of conspiring to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu. The proceedings, held before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, featured testimony from four witnesses, including a soldier from the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police (NACMP), who provided detailed accounts of how the alleged plot was uncovered and investigated.
Intelligence Report Sparks Investigation
The soldier, identified only as “AAA” to protect his identity, testified that he was part of the investigative team assigned after then Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General O. O. Oluyede, received intelligence suggesting that Colonel M. A. Ma’aji and others were planning a coup. According to AAA, the intelligence was carefully analyzed and deemed credible, prompting Oluyede to order a full investigation.
AAA confirmed that he knew the six defendants currently on trial, noting that they included serving military officers and civilians linked to Col. Ma’aji. He explained that his team arrested Ma’aji, seized his Samsung Galaxy phone, and searched his residence, where they recovered a notebook containing operational plans. The notebook allegedly listed senior government officials marked for assassination, alongside structural and political changes intended to follow the coup’s execution.
Forensic Evidence and Financial Links
AAA testified that forensic analysis of Ma’aji’s phone revealed elaborate plans connecting him to other officers and the defendants. Investigators also discovered financial transactions linking Ma’aji to former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva and some of the accused. The phone allegedly contained code words used among the conspirators and records of money transfers to support the plot.
The investigation also uncovered a company, Purple Wave Ltd., which AAA described as a conduit for funding the coup. Financial records provided by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) showed large transactions routed through the company. Prosecutors presented account statements indicating multiple debit transactions between September and October 2025, ranging from ₦50 million to ₦100 million. Although the transactions carried descriptions suggesting legitimate business activities, investigators concluded the funds were diverted to finance the coup.
Meetings and Operational Planning
AAA told the court that the alleged conspirators held several meetings at locations including Green Land Apartment and BrookVille Hotel in Abuja. During these gatherings, he said, participants exchanged anti-government rhetoric and agreed on the need for regime change. Plans were drawn up to attack key targets, including Niger Barracks, where senior military officers reside, and to seize control of strategic roads and streets during the coup.
The witness further testified that the plotters divided government positions among themselves, discussed merging or creating new agencies, and even engaged in consultations and divination rituals. Vehicles purchased for the operation were reportedly retrofitted for “kinetic purposes.” Receipts for hotel reservations used during the meetings were also recovered, and prosecutors tendered documents from BrookVille Hotel confirming payments.
Evidence Admitted Despite Objections
Prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, tendered several pieces of evidence, including extracts from Ma’aji’s phone and receipts from BrookVille Hotel. Although defense lawyers objected to their admissibility, the court admitted them, noting that objections could be addressed during final arguments.
AAA also revealed that the defendants gave voluntary written statements before a special investigative panel, with sessions recorded both in writing and on video. Only the sixth defendant, Abdulkadir Sani, submitted his statement exclusively to the Military Police. Oyedepo attempted to tender a flash drive containing audiovisual recordings of the sessions, but defense counsel Paul Erokoro (SAN) objected, arguing that the device had not been frontloaded. The judge ruled that the prosecution must serve the defense with the recordings before they could be played in court.
Bank Officials Testify
Earlier in the day, the prosecution called three bank officials to testify about financial transactions linked to the defendants and companies allegedly used to channel funds. Munahura Anas, a Compliance Officer with Jaiz Bank, presented documents relating to an account owned by Abdulkadir Sani. Taiwo Adeola Wellington, a Compliance Officer with SunTrust Bank, tendered records connected to Purple Wave Ltd. Gideon Elijah, a Legal Officer from Providus Bank, submitted account statements for A & A Express Link, another firm allegedly tied to the conspiracy. All three witnesses were cross-examined by defense lawyers.
Alleged Coup Financing
AAA’s testimony highlighted specific financial transactions that prosecutors argue were disguised as legitimate business expenses but were instead used to fund the coup. For example, a ₦100 million debit entry described as “part payment for clearing debris along the coastal corridor” was allegedly diverted to support the plot. Similar transactions were traced to hotel reservations, vehicle purchases, and other logistics.
The prosecution maintains that these financial trails, combined with the operational plans found in Ma’aji’s notebook and phone, demonstrate a coordinated effort to overthrow the Tinubu-led government. According to AAA, the evidence shows that the defendants not only planned the coup but also took concrete steps toward its execution.
Defense Strategy
Defense lawyers consistently challenged the admissibility of documents and electronic evidence, arguing that proper procedures were not followed. They reserved detailed objections for their final addresses, signaling that the defense intends to contest both the credibility of the witnesses and the legality of the evidence presented.
Adjournment
After hearing testimony from the four witnesses, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case until May 4 and 5, when the fourth prosecution witness is expected to continue his testimony. The trial, which has drawn significant public attention, is being closely watched as one of the most high-profile cases involving allegations of coup plotting in Nigeria’s recent history.
