What if one of Nigeria’s most sensitive military installations had been seized before dawn? What if the nation’s airports had been shut down, its airspace paralysed, and a nationwide broadcast announced the end of a democratically elected government?
According to newly revealed court documents, investigators believe those scenarios formed part of an alleged operational blueprint developed by military officers accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The documents, now forming part of ongoing criminal proceedings, offer the clearest picture yet of what prosecutors describe as a carefully coordinated plan one that allegedly extended beyond military strategy to include coded communication, troop mobilisation, media control, and even discussions about who would govern Nigeria if the operation succeeded.
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The confidential investigative records, running into more than 7,400 pages, include statements from suspects, bank records, intelligence reports, recovered notes, electronic evidence and other exhibits gathered during the investigation.
While the prosecution argues the documents expose a coordinated conspiracy to seize power, the defendants have denied all allegations and are challenging key pieces of evidence before the court.
The Men at the Centre of the Alleged Plot
Previous investigations identified Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji as the alleged principal coordinator of the operation, working alongside retired Colonel M.M. Adamu, Lieutenant-Colonel Shamsuddeen Bappah and Major Abdulkarim Ibrahim.
Military authorities have said retired Colonel Adamu remains at large.
Investigators allege the group’s objective was straightforward but ambitious: seize strategic military facilities, neutralise resistance from senior commanders, secure communication channels, mobilise loyal troops and establish control before government forces could respond.
A Secret Language Hidden Behind Everyday Words
Perhaps one of the most intriguing aspects of the investigation is the alleged use of an elaborate code language designed to avoid suspicion.
According to investigators, the conspirators referred to themselves as “farmers,” while the alleged coup operation was called “farming.”
Other codewords reportedly included:
- Fertilisers – logistics
- Harvest – execution day
- Digital farming – the operation itself
- Technical partners – clerics approached for prayers
- D-Day – the day of execution
- H-Hour – the exact time the operation would begin
The use of such seemingly harmless agricultural terms, investigators believe, allowed discussions to take place without immediately attracting attention.
Why the Early Hours of the Morning?
Statements made to investigators suggest the operation was expected to begin between 1:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m.,a period considered by one suspect to be consistent with the timing of previous military takeovers in Nigeria.
Although investigators say no final date was agreed upon, three dates repeatedly surfaced during planning:
- September 27, 2025
- October 1, 2025 (Nigeria’s Independence Day)
- October 4, 2025
One suspect reportedly told investigators that no final decision was reached because troop strength, weapons availability and logistical readiness had not yet met operational requirements.
Aso Rock, Military Headquarters and the Media
According to the documents, every participant allegedly received a clearly defined assignment.
The Presidential Villa was considered one of the highest-priority targets. Investigators allege reconnaissance was conducted with assistance from insiders familiar with the complex.
Court proceedings have also heard claims that discussions included disrupting electricity supply to the Villa. However, one suspect, a maintenance worker attached to the Presidential Villa, reportedly warned that such a move would immediately trigger investigations and compromise the operation.
Instead, investigators say the conspirators allegedly explored alternative ways of gaining access with assistance from personnel working within the complex.
Elsewhere, different suspects were allegedly tasked with securing:
- Armed Forces Headquarters
- Nigerian Air Force Headquarters (Air House)
- Radio House in Abuja
- Military formations in Abuja, Lagos and the North-East
- Residences of senior military commanders
Radio House reportedly held particular strategic importance because investigators allege it would have been used to announce the takeover to the nation.
Grounding Nigeria’s Airspace
One of the most striking revelations concerns Nigeria’s airports.
Investigators claim the alleged planners believed no operation could succeed if commercial or military aircraft continued landing during the takeover.
One suspect reportedly told investigators that a military gun truck would be positioned on the runway at Abuja airport to halt flight operations.
Another officer allegedly conducted reconnaissance at Lagos airport, studying security arrangements and identifying possible vulnerabilities ahead of the planned operation.
Troops, Weapons and Military Hardware
Investigators also allege the conspirators had begun identifying where troops and equipment would come from.
Statements suggest several military formations across Nigeria were expected to provide manpower, operational vehicles, ammunition and gun trucks if the operation moved forward.
According to investigators, some officers allegedly assured the group’s leaders they could mobilise soldiers and military hardware immediately once the execution date was confirmed.
Whether those resources would actually have materialised remains one of the unanswered questions surrounding the case.
Arrests or Something More?
One of the most sensitive aspects of the investigation concerns what would happen to Nigeria’s military leadership after the takeover.
Major Abdulkarim Ibrahim reportedly told investigators he advised against bloodshed, arguing that successful coups often depended on securing cooperation from senior commanders rather than killing them.
According to his statement, the alleged response was that senior military officers would simply be arrested.
However, another accused officer reportedly gave investigators a different account, alleging discussions included the possibility of killing a senior military official if resistance became unavoidable.
Those conflicting statements are now part of the evidence before the court and have not been judicially established.
An Administration Already Planned?
Perhaps the most remarkable allegation emerging from the investigation is that discussions allegedly went far beyond removing the existing government.
Investigators claim Colonel Ma’aji intended to assume office as Head of Government immediately after the operation and move into the Presidential Villa.
He was also allegedly expected to announce a new military leadership during his first national address
Some participants reportedly discussed the government positions they hoped to occupy in the event of a successful takeover, with appointments such as minister, aide-de-camp and chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) allegedly mentioned during planning.
The Trial Continues
The allegations remain before both a military General Court Martial and the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty and continue to challenge the admissibility of several statements, video recordings and other exhibits, arguing they were obtained in violation of safeguards contained in Nigeria’s Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
The prosecution insists all investigative procedures complied with the law and has urged the court to admit the evidence.
For now, no verdict has been reached, and the court is yet to determine the admissibility of some of the disputed evidence.
The Bigger Questions
Whether the alleged conspiracy was truly close to execution or remained an ambitious plan discussed behind closed doors is a question only the courts can ultimately answer.
But the disclosures raise troubling questions about Nigeria’s security architecture and civil-military relations.
How far had the alleged planning progressed before investigators intervened? Were there more individuals involved than those already before the courts? Could such an operation have succeeded if left undetected? And what other details remain hidden within the thousands of pages of evidence yet to be publicly examined?
As the trial unfolds, Nigerians and indeed the international community will be watching closely.
Because if the allegations are proven, this would represent one of the most detailed and sophisticated alleged coup plots uncovered in Nigeria’s democratic history. If they are not, the case will stand as a powerful reminder of the importance of due process, the presumption of innocence, and the rule of law.
Sources and References
- Premium Times – Fresh details of alleged coup plot reveal operational blueprint, coded language and transition plans: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/
- Premium Times – Previous reports on the ongoing Federal High Court trial: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/
- Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015: https://placng.org/lawsofnigeria/laws/A4.pdf
- Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended): https://www.nass.gov.ng/
Editor’s Note: This report is based on allegations presented by prosecutors in ongoing court proceedings and previous investigative reporting by Premium Times. The accused persons have denied the allegations, and no court has found them guilty. The matters remain before the courts.
