NEWS
Failed Coup Plot: Police Inspector at Presidential Villa Allegedly Deceived Suspected Coup Leaders, Collected Cash While Promising Villa Access
Fresh details have emerged from the ongoing trial of suspects linked to an alleged failed coup plot against President Bola Tinubu, revealing how a serving police inspector attached to the Presidential Villa allegedly exploited the suspected conspirators by collecting money from them while falsely leading them to believe he could secure access to Nigeria’s seat of power.
The revelations are contained in confidential investigative documents obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, which provide a detailed account of the planning behind the alleged coup attempt and the role investigators say various suspects played in the operation.
According to the report, as the alleged plotters sought weapons, funding and logistical support to overthrow the Tinubu administration, they concluded that gaining smooth, non-violent access to the Presidential Villa in Abuja would be critical to the success of the operation.
Investigators said the conspirators believed that assistance from insiders would enable them to bypass the heavily fortified security architecture surrounding the Presidential Villa, widely regarded as one of the country’s most secure locations.
At the centre of the alleged access plan was Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, a serving officer attached to the Presidential Villa’s VIP escort unit. His responsibilities reportedly included escorting the President and senior presidential officials as well as guarding various entry gates within the Villa.
The confidential documents reportedly show that what began as a request for assistance evolved into what investigators described as an elaborate deception, with the inspector allegedly turning the suspected coup plot into a lucrative personal scheme by collecting money from the alleged masterminds without intending to facilitate their plans.
The latest disclosures come as 36 serving military officers face a General Court Martial in Abuja, while six other suspects, including retired military officers and Inspector Ibrahim, are standing trial before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a 13-count charge.
Those facing trial include retired Major-General Muhammed Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Victor, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, Abdulkadir Sani and Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim. All the defendants have pleaded not guilty, while their lawyers have challenged the admissibility of statements made during the investigation.
INVESTIGATORS TRACE PLOT BACK TO 2023
According to intelligence reports, the alleged coup plot was not the conspirators’ first attempt to seize power.
Investigators said the group had initially planned to disrupt the official transfer of power from former President Muhammadu Buhari to President Bola Tinubu during the May 29, 2023 inauguration. However, that plan reportedly failed due to insufficient funding and logistical setbacks.
Authorities further alleged that the plot was revived in 2025 after former Bayelsa State Governor and former Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, allegedly facilitated nearly ₦1 billion through multiple transfers via a Bureau De Change operator to finance the operation.
Investigators also alleged that the conspirators compiled a list of high-profile targets, including President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, service chiefs and the Commander of the Guards Brigade.
HOW INSPECTOR IBRAHIM ALLEGEDLY ENTERED THE PICTURE
In his statement to investigators, Inspector Ibrahim explained that he became acquainted with the alleged chief strategist and financier of the coup, Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, through Corporal Audu Momoh during a Ramadan lecture at Abuja’s Central Mosque.
“I didn’t know Col Ma’aji in person until during this year’s fasting lecture at Central Mosque in Central Area, Abuja. Cpl Audu Momoh said to me that this was Col Ma’aji ‘I was telling you who brought that madam for the audience with the Chief of Staff that failed’,“ he stated, Recalling the encounter
According to Inspector Ibrahim, Corporal Momoh requested his help in arranging access to one of the President’s aides because Colonel Ma’aji was allegedly frustrated over delays in his promotion to brigadier-general.
The inspector said he suggested approaching Musa Haro, whom he described as a cousin of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, but the effort yielded no result.
He later attended an iftar invitation at Colonel Ma’aji’s residence in Lokogoma, Abuja, after which the two met several times at a tea spot on Gimbiya Street in Garki.
Inspector Ibrahim told investigators that conversations initially focused on Nigeria’s economic hardship and delays in military promotions before allegedly taking a more dangerous turn.
According to his statement, during a meeting in the first week of August 2025, Colonel Ma’aji allegedly revealed plans to overthrow the government.
He quoted the retired officer as saying the government “was not being sincere to the citizens” and that worsening economic hardship meant “they need to be flushed out.”
Investigators said it was at that meeting that Colonel Ma’aji allegedly sought Inspector Ibrahim’s assistance in gaining access to the Presidential Villa.
ALLEGED SCHEME TO COLLECT MONEY
Rather than genuinely assisting the alleged conspirators, Inspector Ibrahim claimed he secretly agreed with Zekeri Umoru, a Julius Berger electrician working within the Presidential Villa, to deceive Colonel Ma’aji into believing they could facilitate access while collecting money from him.
According to his statement:
“We agreed to just buy Col Ma’aji time and get what we can get, knowing that penetrating the Villa is not feasible.“
The inspector alleged that Colonel Ma’aji subsequently transferred money to him on several occasions, including Ramadan and Sallah gifts, bank transfers of ₦200,000, ₦100,000, ₦50,000 and ₦20,000, as well as ₦1 million in cash before his wedding in October 2025.
He further stated that he gave Corporal Momoh ₦200,000 for his children’s school fees and spent ₦380,000 on wedding expenses, including dowry, food and other ceremonies.
VILLA TOURS AND ALLEGED CODE WORDS
Although insisting that gaining operational access to the Presidential Villa was impossible, Inspector Ibrahim admitted escorting two serving major-generals around sections of the Villa at Colonel Ma’aji’s request.
He alleged that he took Major-General M.A. Usman through Gate 8, House 3, Gate 10, Aguda House and exited through the Supreme Court Gate before leaving at the Bullet Secretariat.
He also admitted conducting a similar tour for another senior officer, Major-General A.J. Ibrahim.
Investigators are relying on those alleged movements as part of the evidence before the court.
Inspector Ibrahim also disclosed what investigators described as coded language allegedly used by members of the network.
According to his statement, “farmer” referred to troops, “fertiliser” and “equipment” meant cash, “harvesting” meant overthrowing the government, “crops” referred to authorities, “master of ceremony” referred to the Commander-in-Chief, while “farmland” referred to the Presidential Villa.
He further alleged that he invented the identity of a man called Sarkin Malami and falsely claimed the individual could help source funds from Sokoto.
The inspector stated that Colonel Ma’aji even booked flight tickets for him and the fictitious individual, but he never travelled and merely pretended the trip had taken place.
He also claimed he introduced another acquaintance identified simply as Alhaji Musa from Kano, falsely presenting him as someone capable of raising between ₦500 million and ₦1 billion for the operation.
Later, he allegedly informed Colonel Ma’aji that they were waiting for a cheque from Sokoto, although no such funds existed.
Inspector Ibrahim further admitted requesting additional money on April 9, 2025, claiming it was meant for “gate guys”—officers who would supposedly facilitate access into the Presidential Villa.
According to him, that claim was also fabricated solely to obtain more money from Colonel Ma’aji.
FAILURE TO REPORT ALLEGED PLOT
Despite maintaining that he never intended to support the alleged coup plot, Inspector Ibrahim admitted he never informed his superiors or any security agency about the conversations.
When asked why he failed to report the alleged plot, he told investigators he acted out of “fear of the unknown.”
He also stated that, apart from himself, only Zekeri Umoru and Ali Musa, an ambulance driver attached to the Presidential Clinic, were aware of the alleged coup-related discussions within the Presidential Villa.
The allegations contained in Inspector Ibrahim’s statement remain part of the prosecution’s case and have not been established by any court. All the defendants have pleaded not guilty and are contesting the charges, while also challenging the admissibility of their statements as proceedings continue be
fore both the Federal High Court and the General Court Martial.
Source: PREMIUM TIMES