REVEALED: How Tinubu’s government survived foiled coup plot

As Nigerians prepared for the transfer of power on May 29, 2023, some military officers were allegedly plotting to overthrow democracy and assassinate key political figures.

Sources said the alleged coup was aimed at violently disrupting the handover of power from Muhammadu Buhari to Bola Tinubu.

The plot was initially scheduled for May 29, 2023, but was suspended due to insufficient funds and inadequate logistical arrangements.

The plan was allegedly masterminded by Alhassan Ma’aji, a Colonel in the Nigerian Army and a native of Niger state.

Ma’aji, a member of the infantry corps and the 47 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, previously served as commanding officer of the 19 battalion in Okitipupa, Ondo state.

He also participated in Operation Crocodile Smile II in 2017 and later served as commander of Operation Delta Safe.

Sources told Premium Times that the plot was reactivated in 2025 after Timipre Sylva, former governor of Bayelsa state, allegedly transferred nearly ₦1 billion in multiple tranches to accounts linked to a Bureau de Change operator.

Sylva later denied involvement in the alleged plot after soldiers raided his residence during investigations and was subsequently declared wanted by the EFCC.

Investigators said the alleged coupists planned to assassinate Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.

Further investigations showed that Service Chiefs, the Commander of the Guards Brigade and other senior officers were also listed as targets.

Some of the officers were allegedly assigned to seize control of the Presidential Villa, the Niger Barracks, the Armed Forces of Nigeria complex and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

The plot began to unravel in September 2025 after a military officer alerted Olufemi Oluyede, then Chief of Army Staff, over fears of being implicated in treason.

Around the same period, the Department of State Security (DSS) independently uncovered intelligence indicating that some serving officers were planning to destabilise the government.

Oluwatosin Ajayi, Director-General of the DSS, was said to have personally briefed Oluyede on the findings.

The Army and the DSS subsequently launched a discreet joint operation that led to coordinated arrests across different parts of the country.

Tinubu was later briefed on the foiled plot and immediately ordered the cancellation of the October 1 Independence Day parade.

The president also approved the constitution of a special investigative panel led by Maj-Gen Emmanuel Undiandeye, Chief of Defence Intelligence.

One of the detained soldiers reportedly escaped custody but was rearrested by dSS operatives in Bauchi, while a retired officer identified as Adamu and Sylva remain at large.

Tinubu later approved the retirement of the then Chief of Defence Staff, Musa, alongside the chiefs of the Navy and Air Force.

Oluyede was subsequently appointed Chief of Defence Staff, while Musa later returned to government as minister of defence.