Court Hears Alleged Coup Suspect Sought Spiritual Protection, Paid Millions

The Federal Government has claimed in court documents filed in the ongoing trial of an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu that the alleged mastermind, Nigerian Army Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, sought spiritual support from Islamic clerics while allegedly planning the failed coup.

The records, which form part of the prosecution’s proof of evidence before the Federal High Court in Abuja and a General Court Martial, alleged that the colonel repeatedly approached clerics for prayers, guidance and support, Premium Times reported.

However, in statements to investigators, clerics said they always discouraged any effort to overthrow the government.

The allegations contained in the prosecution’s case are still to be determined by the court.

The Federal Government on April 22 arraigned six defendants before the Federal High Court, Abuja, over an alleged plot to carry out a coup in 2025.

They are retired Major General Mohammed Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Presidential Villa electrician Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni and Kaduna based Islamic cleric Abdulkadir Sani.

They face 13 charges including treason, terrorism, money laundering and failure to disclose information.

The case FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026 was filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

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Bukar Goni stated that he met Ma’aji through Major M.A. Usman in his statement to investigators, when both military officers were seeking prayers over their repeated failure in promotion examinations.

Goni said the colonel, who allegedly sought promotion to the rank of brigadier general, became frustrated at his failure to get promoted and believed senior officers were deliberately frustrating his career.

The cleric said he advised the officer to continue praying and doing charitable deeds instead of doing unlawful things.

Goni said Ma’aji spoke about people planning what he described as a “riot,” but said he turned down the idea every time it came up.

The statement also said the cleric told the officer he would have a disturbing dream, which he took as a sign that any violent action would end in disaster, before he resorted to what he called a spiritual warning.

The warning convinced the officer to drop the alleged plot – for now, at least, Goni said.

The cleric confessed to receiving millions of naira from Ma’aji but insisted the money was only for prayers, charitable activities and building a mosque.

He told investigators that within 15 days some #10 million was transferred while two further transfers of #20 million each were later received.

He said about ₦24.7 million had been spent to acquire land for the mosque, while the rest of the money was being kept for the project.

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He denied receiving any money to help an alleged coup.

Another cleric, Abdulkadir Sani, also told investigators that Ma’aji had only come to him for prayers at a religious event in Bida.

Later discussions were about the planned uprising after an intermediary allegedly told him about it, Sani said.

The cleric said he gave an immediate warning that the operation would fail because two of the group’s members would end up betraying it.

He further alleged that the colonel later sought prayers against internal betrayal and later transferred ₦2 million into his bank account.

Sani said his bank account was later blocked and he was arrested when he went to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to make enquiries.

The two clerics’ statements are among the prosecution’s evidence in the ongoing trial.

The prosecution says they were among the witnesses interviewed during the probe involving military officers, police personnel and civilians.

The six defendants have all denied the charges and are contesting the admissibility of their statements.

The court will be ruling on the charges based on the evidence that was presented to the court during trial.