The Nigerian military has confirmed it will proceed with the court-martial of 16 officers after investigations linked them to a plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) disclosed on Monday, January 26, 2026, that it has concluded its probe into the officers, who were arrested in October 2025. While the military had initially described the arrests as a routine clampdown on “indiscipline and breaches of service regulations,” the outcome of the months-long investigation has revealed much graver offenses.
According to the Director of Defence Information, Major-General Samaila Uba, the comprehensive investigation identified that a number of the detained officers have cases to answer regarding “allegations bordering on plotting to overthrow the government.”
General Uba stated that such actions are fundamentally inconsistent with the ethics, values, and professional standards expected of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Sources close to the investigation revealed that while the primary charge involves a coup plot, the officers’ grievances reportedly stemmed from “perceived career stagnation” and repeated failures in promotion examinations. The group, which includes high-ranking personnel, allegedly felt marginalized within the service, prompting them to contemplate mutiny.
The 16 officers facing trial span various ranks, from Brigadier-General to Lieutenant. They reportedly include:
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One Brigadier-General (identified by sources as Brig.-Gen. Musa Abubakar Sadiq, suspected to be a central figure).
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One Colonel.
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Four Lieutenant Colonels.
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Five Majors.
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Two Captains, among others.
It is understood that the officers are drawn from critical units including the Infantry, Signals, and Ordnance Corps, as well as the Navy and Air Force.
The military has declared that the indicted officers will now be “formally arraigned before appropriate military judicial panels” to face trial in line with the Armed Forces Act.
“The measures being taken are purely disciplinary and part of internal institutional mechanisms to preserve discipline, cohesion, and operational effectiveness within the ranks,” General Uba said.
Credible sources also confirmed that the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has submitted the full investigation report to President Bola Tinubu. The President, as the Commander-in-Chief, is expected to give the final nod for the sanctions, which could range from dismissal to imprisonment or the death penalty, depending on the severity of the charges established during the court-martial.
This development marks a significant turn after the military had spent months denying media reports of a coup scare, insisting previously that the arrests were merely administrative. The confirmation has sent ripples through the defense establishment, with the DHQ moving quickly to reassure the public of its unwavering loyalty to constitutional authority and democratic governance.
