Wike Named in Alleged Coup Plot as Potential Financier, Court Records Show

Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has been mentioned in investigation records relating to the alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

However, documents obtained by investigators reportedly contain no evidence that Wike was contacted over the alleged plan or that he had knowledge of any proposed attempt to seize power.

The development was contained in the statement of retired naval captain Erasmus Victor, one of the defendants currently facing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged 2025 coup plot.

Victor admitted during questioning that he was aware of discussions concerning the alleged plan. He, however, told investigators that he repeatedly advised the alleged mastermind, Army Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, to abandon the idea.

According to investigation records obtained by PulseNets, Ma’aji allegedly approached Victor because of their longstanding relationship, which began during their time at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).

Victor explained that they remained in contact after serving together at the academy, where he had previously served as commanding officer of the Burma Battalion while Ma’aji worked as his adjutant.

The retired naval officer said Ma’aji became increasingly frustrated after failing to secure a promotion in or around 2023.

Victor said he contacted the officer to encourage him and advised him to concentrate on retirement rather than allow the disappointment over his career to overwhelm him.

“He was very devastated,” Victor reportedly said.

According to Victor, Ma’aji rejected the advice and instead said he was prepared to do “anything necessary,” even if doing so cost him his life.

Victor said he understood the statement to mean that Ma’aji was considering an unconstitutional takeover of government and claimed that he consistently warned him against pursuing such a course.

The retired naval captain further disclosed that Ma’aji subsequently began looking for wealthy Nigerians who could allegedly provide financial support for the proposed operation.

Victor said several influential Nigerians were mentioned during their conversations, including Wike, who served as governor of Rivers State before becoming FCT minister.

Explaining how Wike’s name entered the discussions, 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.”

Victor said Ma’aji subsequently suggested that he should approach Wike in an attempt to secure funding for the alleged operation.

“He suggested I bring Nyesom Wike into the plan in order to seek funds from him.”

Victor, however, maintained that he never contacted Wike or any other person to solicit money for the alleged operation.

He told investigators that he only informed Ma’aji that his attempts to identify possible sponsors had not succeeded.

He further stated, “I was not under compulsion to tell Col Ma’aji I was going to get him sponsors.”

The investigation records, according to the information obtained by PulseNets, do not indicate that Wike was aware of the alleged coup plot, participated in the discussions or provided financial support for the proposed operation.

The alleged conspiracy came under investigation after security agencies uncovered the plot 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 attempting to take control of the government.

Investigators also alleged that members of the group had been assigned different responsibilities, including military operations, logistics, recruitment of financiers, intelligence gathering, propaganda and spiritual consultations.

Victor is standing trial alongside serving and retired military officers accused of involvement in the alleged conspiracy.

In his statement to investigators, the retired naval officer said he eventually became suspicious of Ma’aji’s intentions and began questioning whether the alleged coup plan was genuine.

“I suspected it was 419,” Victor reportedly told investigators.

Victor explained that he began wondering whether Ma’aji was simply attempting to obtain money from wealthy Nigerians by presenting the proposed takeover as a genuine operation.

He argued that anyone who voluntarily financed an illegal operation would probably be reluctant to report the matter to security agencies if the money was subsequently lost.

Victor maintained that he made no attempt to raise funds and repeatedly told Ma’aji that individuals who could potentially finance the plan were not interested.

The investigation further established that Victor admitted communicating with Ma’aji through Zangi, an encrypted messaging application.

Victor said the application was recommended because it provided a more secure means of communication than ordinary telephone calls.

He told investigators that he downloaded the application specifically 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 allegedly connected to the operation. Victor, however, denied involvement in any financial arrangement relating to the alleged plot.

The retired naval officer also acknowledged that discussions took place about possible government appointments if the alleged coup had succeeded.

According to his statement, Ma’aji at one point asked him what position he would want in the proposed administration.

Victor said he jokingly reminded the colonel that he had previously promised to make him Chief of Staff to the President.

He said Ma’aji instead told him he would be appointed as a minister.

Victor maintained that the conversation was not serious and should not be interpreted as evidence that he supported the alleged conspiracy.

He also disclosed that Ma’aji estimated that the operation would require about ₦2 billion.

Victor said he warned that executing such a plan would be difficult because of modern surveillance systems and advances in communication technology. According to him, those factors further convinced him that the proposed operation would ultimately fail.

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Although Victor admitted forwarding some revolutionary themed social media materials to Ma’aji through WhatsApp, he maintained that he repeatedly discouraged the alleged coup plan.

He denied participating in any effort to overthrow the government and insisted that his interactions with Ma’aji did not amount to support for the alleged conspiracy.

The case is expected to continue before the Federal High Court in Abuja as the prosecution presents its evidence and the defendants respond to the allegations against them.