Involvement of Security Personnel: Investigative documents revealed that a police inspector assigned to VIP escort duties at the Presidential Villa, Ahmed Ibrahim, allegedly became entangled with military officers and civilians suspected of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu [cite: Fresh-details-have-emerged-on-how-a-police-inspector-attached-to-the-Presidential-Villa-allegedly-became-entangled-in-a-suspected-plot-by-military-officers-and-civilians-to-overthrow-the-administration-of-President-Bola-Tinubu., The-documents-obtained-by-Premium-Times-showed-that-the-alleged-plotters-considered-access-to-the-Villa-critical-to-the-success-of-their-plan-and-subsequently-contacted-a-serving-police-inspector-Ahmed-Ibrahim-who-was-attached-to-vip-escort-duties-at-the-seat-of-government.].....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Legal Proceedings: Currently, 36 military officers are facing a General Court Martial, while six other defendants—including retired senior officers, Inspector Ibrahim, and civilians—are on trial before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja [cite: The-revelations-come-as-36-serving-military-officers-are-facing-a-General-Court-Martial-in-Abuja-over-their-alleged-involvement-in-the-suspected-plot., Six-other- defendants-including-retired-military-officers-a-serving-police-inspector-and-civilians-are-separately-standing-trial-on-13-counts-before-Justice-Joyce-Abdulmalik-of-the-Federal-High-Court-in-Abuja.]. All defendants have pleaded not guilty.

• Background and Funding: Investigators claim the conspiracy revived in 2025—after an earlier 2023 plan collapsed due to funding issues—with former Bayelsa State governor Timipre Sylva accused of channeling nearly ₦1 billion through a Bureau De Change operator to finance the operation [cite: Intelligence-reports-cited-by-the-newspaper-claimed-that-the-alleged-conspiracy-uncovered-in-september-2025-was-not-the-first-attempt-by-members-of-the-group-to-seize-power., That-alleged-plan-was-said-to-have-collapsed-because-of-inadequate-funding-and-logistical-difficulties., The-operation-was-allegedly-revived-in-2025-after-former-Bayelsa-State-governor-and-former-Minister-of-State-for-Petroleum-Resources-Timipre-Sylva-was-accused-of-transferring-almost-1-billion-in-several-tranches-through-a-Bureau-De-Change-operator-to-finance-the-plot.].

The Police Inspector’s Role and Deception

• The Scheme: According to statements attributed to Ibrahim, rather than reporting the plot, he conspired with a Julius Berger electrician, Zekeri Umoru, to trick the alleged mastermind, Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, into believing they could facilitate access to the Villa while extracting money from him [cite: However-investigators-alleged-that-rather-than-immediately-reporting-the-approach-the-inspector-devised-a-scheme-to-convince-the-suspected-coup-plotters-that-he-could-help-them-gain-access-while-allegedly-collecting-money-from-them., Ibrahim-claimed-that-instead-of-genuinely-helping-the-suspected-conspirators-he-reached-an-agreement-with-Umoru-a-Julius-Berger-electrician-working-within-the-Presidential-Villa-to-deceive-Ma-aji-into-believing-that-access-could-be-arranged.].

• Financial Extortion: Ibrahim stated that Ma’aji gifted him various cash amounts, wedding funds, and digital transfers, while the inspector also fabricated contacts and fake funding sources to secure additional money [cite: Ibrahim-told-investigators-that-Ma-aji-later-gave-him-money-on-different-occasions., The-inspector-said-he-later-introduced-Ma-aji-to-Umoru-during-a-meeting-at-Tiger-Bar-along-Airport-Road-in-Abuja., Ibrahim-also-claimed-that-he-fabricated-the-existence-of-a-man-identified-as-Sarkin-Malami-and-convinced-Ma-aji-that-the-supposed-contact-could-help-raise-money-for-the-operation-from-Sokoto-State.].

• Villa Tours and Coded Language: Despite claiming actual penetration was impossible, Ibrahim admitted to escorting two major-generals (M.A. Usman and A.J. Ibrahim) through parts of the Presidential Villa at Ma’aji’s request. The network reportedly used a secret lexicon where “farmer” meant troops, “fertiliser” meant money, and “harvesting” represented overthrowing the government [cite: The-investigation-documents-also-revealed-a-series-of-code-words-allegedly-used-by-members-of-the-suspected-network., According-to-Ibrahim-s-statement-farmer-meant-troops-while-fertiliser-and-equipment-referred-to-money., Harvesting-allegedly-meant-overthrowing-the-government-while-crops-referred-to-authorities.].