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Mohammed Ma’aji, a Nigerian military colonel, has been reported to be the face behind the foiled coup aimed at toppling President Bola Tinubu’s government.
The Eastern Updates reports that there was an attempted coup in the country in October 2025, creating tension across the country.
Although authorities earlier denied the report, the Defence Headquarters admitted on Monday, January 26 that about sixteen military officers plotted to overthrow the current administration.
Colonel M. A. Ma’aji was number one in the list of 16 indicted officers released on Monday by the panel set up to investigate the matter.
This confirmed earlier reports indicating that Ma’aji led the failed coup.
Here are a few things to know about the prime suspect;
Colonel Ma’aji was a security adviser to Timi Sylva in the 2015 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election.
Ma’aji was born in 1976 to Nupe parents, in Niger State.
He was a member of regular course 47 of the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA.
Ma’aji served as Commanding Officer, CO of the 19 Battalion in Okitipupa, Ondo State, before he was posted to Koko, headquarters of Warri North LGA, Delta State, in 2017.
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The Defence Headquarters has concluded its investigation into sixteen military officers arrested in October 2025 over alleged acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations, including claims of plotting to overthrow the Federal Government.
In a statement issued on Monday, January 26, 2026, by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the Armed Forces of Nigeria said the investigation report has been forwarded to the appropriate authorities in line with existing military regulations.
According to the statement, the findings showed that some of the officers were involved in activities inconsistent with the ethics and professional standards of the military, including allegations of attempting to undermine constitutional authority.
