For months, rumors and secrecy have surrounded last year's alleged Independence Day coup plot in Nigeria, but with this week's indictment of six people accused of involvement comes the first details of what is said to have been an elaborate plan to oust President Bola Tinubu.
It was due to take place on 1 October 2025 - the day Nigeria marked the 65th anniversary of its independence from the UK.
But at the last minute, the celebratory parade, to be attended by the president, was cancelled, with the government and military tight-lipped about the reasons.
In January, the military announced that 16 unnamed senior military officers were to face a court-martial over an alleged plot, effectively admitting a coup attempt had been thwarted.
Now, court documents filed by state prosecutors at the Federal High Court in Abuja have revealed the name of the alleged mastermind and suggested that destabilization was one of the major aims of the plotters.
The six going on trial at the High Court cannot go before a military court, as some are civilians: one is a serving police inspector and others are retired military personnel.
They have denied the 13 charges, including treason, terrorism, and money laundering, and their trial promises to shed light on an alleged plan that supposedly involved all elements of Nigeria's security forces.
Nigeria has a long history of military takeovers but has been under civilian rule since 1999. Recent economic hardships and accusations of a rigged political system have led to speculation that Nigeria could be the next target for a coup.
Who was the alleged architect of the plot?
Court documents point to Colonel Mohammed Ma'aji as the alleged chief strategist behind the coup attempt.
Little is known about the 50-year-old, who spent much of his early career in the oil-rich Niger Delta during a period of heightened oil militancy.
This aligns with his evolution into a strategist linking oil interests with military operations. He is said to have developed ties with oil businessman Timipre Sylva, who is alleged to be a financial backer of the coup plot.
How was the alleged plot financed?
While Sylva was not officially indicted this week, his name appears in several counts alongside phrases like still at large. Investigators believe he played a key role in financing the coup attempt aimed at overthrowing Tinubu.
On the day of the alleged coup, briefs suggest the conspirators planned to storm the Aso Rock presidential villa using intelligence gained from insiders.
Concerns regarding the plot led to the cancellation of planned Independence Day celebrations and spurred ongoing investigations.
As the legal proceedings continue and more details emerge, the people of Nigeria await clarity on what could be the first serious coup attempt since the return to democracy in 1999.
