Political Storm Erupts After Naval Officer Links October 1 Parade Cancellation To Alleged Coup Fears

A Nigerian Navy Lieutenant Commander standing trial over an alleged plot to remove President Bola Tinubu from office has admitted sending a WhatsApp message describing the President as “scared” after the Federal Government cancelled the October 1 Independence Day parade.

According to Premium Times, the officer, 38-year-old Bayawo Abdullahi from Kogi State, made the admission in a statement obtained by investigators handling the alleged coup case.

Abdullahi acknowledged that he sent the message to Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, who investigators identified as the alleged leader of the plot, shortly after the government announced the cancellation of the annual military parade.

The alleged coup plot was uncovered by security agencies in September 2025, leading to the arrest of several military personnel. Initial reports indicated that 16 officers were detained before the number of suspects eventually rose to about 40, including officers from different branches of the Armed Forces, a police officer, and several civilians.

Serving military personnel linked to the case are currently facing trial before a General Court-Martial, while six civilians and former military officers are being prosecuted in a civil court.

Following the discovery of the alleged plot, authorities cancelled the Independence Day parade and later reshuffled parts of the military leadership. Although speculation linked the cancellation to security concerns surrounding the alleged coup, the Defence Headquarters maintained that the parade was cancelled because President Tinubu was scheduled to attend a strategic bilateral meeting outside Nigeria.

However, reports indicated that the cancellation came on the same day Colonel Ma’aji was arrested.

Officer Explains WhatsApp Message

During questioning, Abdullahi admitted sending a message to Ma’aji after learning that the parade had been cancelled.

“There was a time I sent a message to Col. Ma’aji after the October 1 parade was cancelled,” he said.

According to investigators, the message read: “The man has cancelled the parade; the bagger is scared.”

It remains unclear whether Abdullahi knew that Ma’aji had already been arrested when he sent the message.

The naval officer insisted that his comment reflected only his personal opinion based on what he considered the President’s previous absence from Independence Day parades and not any knowledge of an imminent operation.

“I just said this phrase because of the history of the president not attending the parade,” he told investigators.

Admits Conduct Was Inappropriate

Abdullahi nevertheless accepted that the message could be viewed as misconduct and an act of disloyalty toward the President.

“I accept that my actions have threatened the national security of Nigeria and are also disloyal to the president,” he stated.

Investigators also questioned whether the message was connected to alleged discussions among the suspected conspirators that October 1 could serve as the date for carrying out their plan.

The officer denied having any knowledge of such an arrangement, insisting that Colonel Ma’aji never informed him of any planned operation for Independence Day.

“I made the statement out of ignorance. I was not aware that October 1 was allegedly intended as the execution date. Col. Ma’aji never discussed that with me. If such discussions took place, they happened at meetings I did not attend,” he said.

Promotion Disputes and Career Challenges

Abdullahi also told investigators that he had become frustrated with his career progression in the Nigerian Navy after missing promotion alongside his coursemates in 2018.

He explained that disciplinary issues linked to an incident in Apapa affected the promotion process for some officers.

“When it was time for promotion, a case came up in Apapa. Some of us were released, but those due for promotion that year missed out because we received letters of displeasure,” he said.

He added that his career difficulties continued after he was posted to Maiduguri and later withdrawn from the Senior Course at Jaji over an examination-related allegation.

Despite his communication with Ma’aji, Abdullahi maintained that he never believed the colonel possessed the personnel or logistics needed to successfully overthrow the government.

According to him, the alleged plan appeared unrealistic, and he eventually dismissed Ma’aji as a “joker,” reducing his communication with him.

“I was never deeply involved in his plans or how he intended to execute them,” Abdullahi stated.

He also expressed regret for failing to report the discussions to the authorities, explaining that he was uncertain about the appropriate channel through which to raise the alarm.

Calls for Better Welfare for Military Personnel

The naval officer further suggested that improving the welfare of members of the Armed Forces could help reduce dissatisfaction within the military.

He advocated stronger communication channels between service personnel and the Federal Government, particularly for officers facing disciplinary actions they believe were unfair.

Abdullahi also called for lower tuition fees in military welfare schools, arguing that many now charge rates comparable to private institutions.

In addition, he urged the government to address rising economic hardship, improve the welfare of military personnel, and introduce affordable housing schemes for officers to boost morale across the Armed Forces.