Coup Plot Trial: Navy Captain, Police Inspector Admit Knowledge in Court Video

Dramatic video evidence played at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, May 4, 2026, has revealed two defendants admitting they had prior knowledge of an alleged plot to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu. The footage showed retired Navy Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor and serving Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim confessing to investigators that they were aware of plans by the suspected mastermind, Colonel M. A. Ma’aji, to topple the administration.

The video recordings, contained on a hard disc tendered by the prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), were played in open court before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik . The prosecution overruled objections from the defence team, who argued that their clients had not made the statements voluntarily, with Justice Abdulmalik ordering the recordings to be played and noting that a trial-within-trial could be conducted to ascertain voluntariness.

In the video, retired Navy Captain Victor admitted that Colonel Ma’aji had expressed anger over a stalled military promotion and had stated his intention to “overthrow the system”. Victor confessed that he was approached to provide financial support and assistance in acquiring an apartment, with the promise of an appointment if the coup succeeded. He insisted he declined involvement but admitted that his personal relationship with Ma’aji clouded his judgment, leading him to fail to report the plot to security agencies. A remorseful Victor pleaded for clemency, stating, “I feel so bad that I find myself in this situation. I am pleading for clemency”. He argued that if the government could grant amnesty to terrorists and bandits, he should also be forgiven given his years of meritorious service in the Navy.

Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, who was attached to the State House, made even more detailed admissions in the video. He told investigators that he initially helped facilitate the alleged mastermind’s promotion but that discussions later shifted to overthrowing the government. Ibrahim admitted receiving between N1.4 million and N1.5 million and participating in reconnaissance operations around the Presidential Villa, including taking photographs of President Tinubu’s residence and Aguda House, and discussing possible access routes. He further confirmed that coded terms such as “fertiliser” and “farming” were used during conversations to refer to funding and the alleged operation. Ibrahim maintained, however, that his involvement stemmed from misplaced judgment and that he merely played along because he knew it would be impossible for the plotters to access the State House.

The first defendant, retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, who was brought to court in a wheelchair due to ill health and old age, denied knowledge of the plot in his video interview. He admitted to sharing a copy of a past coup speech via WhatsApp and receiving a N2 million transfer that investigators linked to him, but explained that he only forwarded materials as received and did not edit or originate them. He told investigators that if he had known about the coup plan, he would have reported it to the relevant authorities.

The defendants are facing a 13-count charge bordering on treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence, financing terrorism, and money laundering . Former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, was also named in the charge but is said to be at large after fleeing the country before the plot was exposed. The six defendants who appeared in court were arraigned on April 22, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to all charges before being remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services.

Justice Abdulmalik has adjourned the matter until May 5, 2026, for continuation of trial. In a parallel development, the military has inaugurated a General Court Martial to try 36 serving military personnel over the same alleged plot, with proceedings being held behind closed doors at the Guards Brigade Scorpion Mess in Asokoro, Abuja. The Defence Headquarters confirmed that the court-martial was inaugurated on April 24, 2026, stating in a release that “the inauguration marks a significant step in reinforcing discipline, accountability and the commitment of the Armed Forces to safeguarding national integrity and constituted authority”.