Nigeria: Exclusive - Alleged 2025 Coup Leader Paid Millions to Islamic Clerics for Spiritual Backing

What the report says

AllAfrica, republishing a Premium Times report from Abuja dated 29 July 2026, reported new details from an exclusive series on an alleged failed 2025 coup plot against President Bola Tinubu. Citing investigation records said to be part of prosecution evidence, Premium Times said Mohammed Ma’aji, a Nigerian Army colonel described by investigators as the alleged mastermind, sought prayers and spiritual support from Islamic clerics while allegedly trying to build support for overthrowing the government.

The report said the federal government arraigned six suspects on 22 April at the Federal High Court in Abuja in case FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026. The defendants include 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 cleric Abdulkadir Sani. They face 13 counts including treason, terrorism, money laundering and failure to disclose information. Separate proceedings are also before a military-organised General Court Martial.

According to Premium Times, cleric Bukar Goni told investigators he received large payments from Mr Ma’aji but said they were for prayers, charity and mosque-related work, not political activity. The report says Mr Goni described attempts to discourage what Mr Ma’aji allegedly called a planned “riot,” including efforts to delay the plan. Another cleric, Abdulkadir Sani, reportedly said he initially met Mr Ma’aji for general prayers and later warned intermediaries that any alleged operation would fail.

The case matters because prosecutors are portraying the alleged plot as a network involving military officers, civilians and religious figures. The reported clerics’ statements, however, present them as attempting to dissuade the alleged plan, a point likely to be tested as the trials continue.