This part of PREMIUM TIMES’ series of exclusive reports on the alleged 2025 failed coup reveals what one of those facing charges stemming from the alleged plot shared with interrogators about his private talks, doubts, regrets, and general impression about the plot.
A retired naval captain facing coup charges over last year’s alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration has told investigators that he was aware of the plot but repeatedly advised the suspected mastermind, Mohammed Ma’aji, a Nigerian Army colonel, against the plan.
The records include the statement of Erasmus Victor, who is one of the six defendants currently facing trial arising from the alleged coup plot before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In the statement, Mr Victor, who switched to politics after his military service, acknowledged discussing the alleged plot with Mr Ma’aji on several occasions, communicating with him through an encrypted messaging application and even joking about government appointments if the coup succeeded.
Mr Victor, a former local government chairman in Rivers State, discussed how the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, who is a former Rivers State governor, and other individuals were suggested as potential financiers during the coup leader’s alleged scramble to find sponsors.
However, he insisted that although he failed to alert security agencies, he never supported the alleged conspiracy and only pretended to assist Mr Ma’aji while attempting to persuade him to abandon the plan.
Mr Victor is facing prosecution alongside five others, including retired military officers, over the alleged 2025 conspiracy to overthrow President Tinubu’s administration.
The case followed months of investigations by security agencies after the alleged plot was busted in September 2025.
PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported that investigators believe the alleged conspirators planned to assassinate President 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 seizing power.
Investigators also allege that members of the network were assigned different responsibilities, including strategic military assignments, reconnaissance, recruiting financiers, spiritual consultation, logistics and propaganda.
In his statement, Mr Victor traced his relationship with Mr Ma’aji back several years, long before investigators alleged the colonel became involved in planning the alleged coup.
According to the retired naval officer, they first worked together at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), where he served as commanding officer of the Burma Battalion while Mr Ma’aji was his adjutant.
He said their relationship continued after they left the academy.
According to Mr Victor, everything changed after Mr Ma’aji failed to secure promotion around 2023.
“He was very devastated,” Mr Victor told investigators.
He said he telephoned Mr Ma’aji to console him, explaining that he had experienced similar disappointment during his own military career before eventually overcoming it.
Mr Victor said he advised him to begin preparing for retirement rather than allowing the setback to consume him.
According to his statement, the colonel rejected the advice. Instead, he allegedly declared that he was prepared to do “anything necessary,” even if it cost him his life.
Mr Victor said he immediately understood the remark to mean that Mr Ma’aji intended to organise a coup against the government.
Mr Victor told investigators that he repeatedly urged Mr Ma’aji to abandon the idea.
According to him, the colonel later informed him that he needed wealthy sponsors who could finance the operation.
Fifty-year-old Mr Ma’aji who hails from Bida in Niger State allegedly mentioned several influential individuals and asked Mr Victor to approach them on his behalf.
Among those mentioned, he said, was the FCT Minister, Mr Wike.
Mr Victor claimed he told the colonel that Mr Wike was the only person on the list he knew personally and suggested that Mr Ma’aji should contact him directly if he wished.
Mr Victor served as the chairman of the Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State between 2018 and 2021 while Mr Wike was the governor.
“I have been a local government chairman for Ogu/Bolo LGA under Nyesom Wike, and I left office in 2021,” he wrote. “He suggested I bring Nyesom Wike into the plan in order to seek funds from him.”
He maintained that he was “not under compulsion to tell Col Maaji I was going to get him sponsors.”
He added that he never approached any of the individuals, including Mr Wike.
Instead, he simply informed Mr Ma’aji that he had been unable to secure any sponsorship.
According to Mr Victor, his doubts about the alleged plan increased after Mr Ma’aji again sought financial backing following another failed promotion exercise.
