Inside The Alleged Coup Plot: Investigators Trace ₦65 Million Vehicle Purchases To Key Suspect
By NJORIGE LYNUS
Vehicle Purchases Emerge as Critical Evidence in Alleged Coup Investigation
FRESH details emerging from Nigeria’s ongoing prosecution of suspects linked to the alleged 2025 coup conspiracy have revealed how investigators are examining vehicle procurement as a potentially significant component of what prosecutors describe as an extensive logistics network assembled ahead of the alleged plot.
Court documents reviewed as part of the government’s proof of evidence indicate that military investigators questioned an Abuja-based automobile dealer over the purchase of six vehicles valued at approximately ₦65 million during September 2025—a period investigators consider central to the alleged preparations for the planned operation.
The revelations add another dimension to an investigation that has already examined alleged financial transactions, recruitment efforts, logistics arrangements, reconnaissance activities and communications among individuals accused of participating in the conspiracy. The allegations remain before the courts, and all defendants have denied wrongdoing.
Auto Dealer’s Statement Forms Part of Prosecution Evidence
According to investigation records filed by prosecutors, Ahmed Abdulganiyu, Chief Executive Officer of Arun G Motors in Abuja, provided investigators with an extrajudicial statement detailing vehicle transactions allegedly linked to Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, one of the principal figures identified by investigators in the alleged conspiracy.
The statement forms part of thousands of pages of documentary evidence assembled during the investigation and tendered in support of ongoing prosecutions before both the Federal High Court and military judicial authorities.
The defence has challenged the admissibility of several statements, arguing that proper legal safeguards were not observed during their collection. Prosecutors, however, insist that all procedures complied with applicable legal requirements. The court has yet to determine the admissibility and evidential weight of the disputed statements.
How the Vehicle Transactions Allegedly Unfolded
According to the dealer’s account, the transaction reportedly began on 26 September 2025 after he received a telephone call from an individual identified as Aliyu, who allegedly stated that his superior intended to purchase a Toyota Corolla.
The statement said Aliyu later arrived at the dealership accompanied by Colonel Ma’aji. Although the requested vehicles were unavailable at the dealership, the visitors allegedly requested assistance in locating suitable vehicles from other dealers within Abuja.
Investigators said the search eventually resulted in the acquisition of six vehicles comprising three Toyota Hilux trucks, one Toyota Prado sport utility vehicle and two Toyota Corolla sedans.
The dealer told investigators that the purchases appeared to be routine commercial transactions at the time.
Investigators Trace Financial Transactions
The investigation records indicate that payments for the vehicles were allegedly completed through two separate bank transfers amounting to ₦65 million.
According to the dealer’s statement, ₦46.5 million was first transferred into his Access Bank account, while a subsequent ₦18.5 million payment was reportedly made into the account of an associate after the dealer allegedly supplied alternative banking details.
Investigators consider the timing of those transactions significant because they reportedly coincided with a period during which other financial movements linked to the alleged conspiracy were also taking place.
According to the prosecution, another witness—a Bureau de Change operator—allegedly identified the same payment amounts while describing funds investigators believe were distributed to individuals connected with the alleged operation.
Questions Over Vehicle Collection
The dealer further informed investigators that shortly after the second payment was received, an unidentified individual collected four of the six vehicles—three Toyota Hilux trucks and one Toyota Prado.
The two Toyota Corolla vehicles reportedly remained at the dealership and had not been collected when investigators later questioned him.
The prosecution has not publicly established whether the vehicles were ultimately intended for use in the alleged conspiracy, and no judicial finding has yet linked the vehicles directly to any criminal activity.
Additional Transactions Under Scrutiny
Investigators also examined supplementary financial transfers connected to the vehicle purchases.
According to the dealer’s statement, he later transferred ₦700,000 to Aliyu after receiving authorization to do so.
He also stated that an additional ₦300,000 was allegedly transferred for the installation of a compressed natural gas (CNG) conversion system on one of the Toyota Corolla vehicles.
Receipts relating to those transactions were reportedly submitted alongside his statement to investigators.
Expanding Scope of the Investigation
The alleged vehicle purchases form only one component of a much broader investigation that has examined dozens of serving military officers, retired security personnel, police officers and civilians.
Investigators have alleged that participants in the purported network were assigned responsibilities covering logistics, financing, propaganda, intelligence gathering and operational planning.
Among the allegations before the court is the claim that former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva provided substantial financial support for the alleged conspiracy. Sylva has consistently denied the allegation, describing himself as a committed democrat with no involvement in any coup plot.
Authorities have also secured interim forfeiture orders over properties linked to him, while several individuals allegedly connected to him are facing separate proceedings. Those matters likewise remain before the courts.
Legal Questions Remain Central
Although investigators believe the vehicle purchases strengthen the prosecution’s narrative regarding alleged logistical preparations, none of the claims has yet been judicially established.
The accused persons have pleaded not guilty and continue to challenge both the prosecution’s evidence and the procedures through which it was obtained.
The courts will ultimately determine the admissibility of the contested statements, the credibility of witnesses and whether the prosecution has proved the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.
Until then, the vehicle transactions remain one of several pieces of evidence undergoing judicial scrutiny in one of Nigeria’s most closely watched national security prosecutions.
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