Alleged Nigeria coup plotter says acted out of 'patriotism': report

The alleged mastermind of a failed 2025 coup attempt in Nigeria acted out of "patriotism" because of what he saw as his country's "gradual decline", local media reported Monday.

Nigeria's military announced in January that it had arrested 36 officers accused of plotting to overthrow the government.

A military tribunal was established in May to try the officers, including the alleged ringleader, Colonel Mohammed Ma'aji, 50.

"We have our biases and our thoughts and concerns on what was going on in our country from a state of gradual decline up to now, and we are almost at the point of collapse," Ma'aji said in remarks to military investigators published by newspaper Premium Times.

"This action was driven by the desire to have a prosperous nation and country that we all can be proud of," he said, according to the interview transcript.

Ma'aji added that he and others were "driven by patriotism" after watching the country "turning into a banana republic right before our eyes".

In the transcript, Ma'aji criticised government corruption, reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu since taking office in 2023 -- including the removal of fuel subsidies -- poor military pay and the deterioration of the healthcare system.

He also confirmed receiving financial support from former oil minister Timipre Sylva, who is currently on the run, and who allegedly provided 400 million naira ($294,000).

The military tribunal has yet to deliver its verdict.

Had the coup succeeded, it would have ended more than a quarter-century of democratic rule in Africa's most populous nation, which spent much of the 20th century under military governments after gaining independence from Britain in 1960.