Alleged Coup Mastermind Suggested Approaching Wike for Funding, Court Documents Show

Alleged Coup Mastermind Suggested Approaching Wike for Funding, Court Documents Show

FCT Minister’s name surfaces in alleged 2025 coup conspiracy testimony, yet records confirm he was never contacted or aware of the plan

The name of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has surfaced in court documents linked to the alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration. However, investigation records indicate there is no evidence that the minister was contacted or that he had any knowledge of the alleged plan. This distinction is crucial as the trial of six defendants continues before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged 2025 coup conspiracy against the Nigerian government.

The emergence of Wike’s name came from the statement of retired naval captain Erasmus Victor, one of the defendants currently standing trial. Victor admitted that he was aware of discussions surrounding the alleged plan but maintained that he repeatedly advised the alleged mastermind, Army Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, to abandon the idea. His testimony has become a focal point in the proceedings, though investigators have been careful to distinguish between mere mention and actual complicity.

According to investigation records, Victor said Ma’aji approached him because of their long-standing relationship dating back to their time at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). Victor explained that the two had remained in contact after their military careers crossed paths at the academy, where he once served as commanding officer of the Burma Battalion while Ma’aji worked as his adjutant. This existing trust and familiarity reportedly made Victor a natural confidant for the embattled colonel.

Victor told investigators that Ma’aji became deeply frustrated after he failed to secure a promotion around 2023. He said he reached out to encourage the officer and urged him to focus on retirement instead of allowing the disappointment to consume him. “He was very devastated,” Victor reportedly said. According to Victor, Ma’aji rejected the advice and instead declared that he was prepared to do “anything necessary,” even if it cost him his life. Victor said he interpreted the comment as a sign that the officer intended to pursue an unconstitutional takeover of government and claimed he consistently discouraged him from doing so.

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The retired naval officer also disclosed that Ma’aji later began searching for wealthy individuals who could allegedly provide financial backing for the operation. Victor said several influential Nigerians were mentioned during their discussions, and among them was the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Explaining why his name came up, Victor said he had previously served as chairman of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area in Rivers State during Wike’s tenure as governor. “I have been a local government chairman for Ogu/Bolo LGA under Nyesom Wike, and I left office in 2021,” he stated. “He suggested I bring Nyesom Wike into the plan in order to seek funds from him.”

Victor insisted that despite the request, he never approached Wike or any other individual for financial assistance. He said he only informed Ma’aji that his efforts to secure sponsors had failed. He further stated, “I was not under compulsion to tell Col Ma’aji I was going to get him sponsors.” This admission is critical because the investigation records reportedly do not suggest that Wike was aware of the alleged plot or took part in any discussion connected to it. The absence of any evidence linking the FCT Minister to the conspiracy has been a recurring theme in official briefings on the matter.

Security agencies launched investigations after the alleged conspiracy was uncovered in September 2025. Prosecutors alleged that the suspects planned to assassinate President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, service chiefs and other senior government officials before taking over power. Investigators further alleged that different roles had been assigned to members of the group, including military operations, logistics, recruitment of financiers, intelligence gathering, propaganda and spiritual consultations. The scale and audacity of the alleged plot have drawn significant public attention, with many Nigerians closely following the court proceedings.

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Victor is standing trial alongside serving and retired military officers accused of participating in the alleged conspiracy. In his statement, the retired naval officer said he eventually began to doubt whether Ma’aji genuinely intended to stage a coup. “I suspected it was 419,” Victor reportedly told investigators. He explained that he wondered whether the officer was simply trying to obtain money from wealthy individuals under the guise of planning a takeover, arguing that anyone who voluntarily funded an illegal operation would likely be unwilling to report the matter to security agencies if the money disappeared. This skepticism, he claimed, was part of the reason he never took active steps to support the plan.

The investigation also revealed that Victor admitted communicating with Ma’aji through Zangi, an encrypted messaging application. According to him, the platform was recommended because it offered more secure communication than regular phone calls. He said he only downloaded the application to communicate with Ma’aji and another defendant, Lieutenant Colonel Shamsuddeen Bappah. Investigators alleged that Bappah received ₦5 million on September 27, 2025, from funds linked to the alleged operation, though Victor denied taking part in any financial arrangement. The use of encrypted communication has been a point of interest for investigators, who are working to piece together the full extent of communications among the alleged conspirators.

The retired naval officer also acknowledged discussions about possible appointments if the alleged coup had succeeded. According to his statement, Ma’aji once asked him what position he would like in the proposed administration. Victor claimed he jokingly reminded the colonel that he had earlier promised to make him Chief of Staff to the President, but the officer instead replied that he would appoint him as a minister. Victor insisted the conversation was never serious and should not be interpreted as support for the alleged conspiracy, framing it as casual banter rather than a genuine planning session.

He further disclosed that Ma’aji estimated the operation would require about ₦2 billion to execute. Victor said he warned that such a plan would be difficult to execute because of modern surveillance systems and communication technology, adding that those realities convinced him the operation would fail. This practical assessment, he claimed, was part of his ongoing effort to discourage the colonel from pursuing what he saw as a doomed enterprise. Although he admitted forwarding some revolutionary-themed social media materials to Ma’aji through WhatsApp, Victor maintained that he consistently advised against the alleged plot and denied participating in any effort to overthrow the government. He also admitted he never reported the alleged plan to security agencies despite knowing about it, claiming he attempted to reach the then-Rivers State Sole Administrator but was unable to get through.

The trial is expected to continue as the Federal High Court considers evidence presented by the prosecution and the responses of the defendants. The defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges, and legal experts anticipate a lengthy judicial process given the gravity of the allegations. As the proceedings unfold, the distinction between names mentioned in testimony and individuals with actual involvement will remain a critical factor in determining the outcome of the case.

Alleged Coup Mastermind Suggested Approaching Wike for Funding, Court Documents Show