The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed that investigations into the alleged misconduct of 16 military officers, including claims bordering on a plot to overthrow the Federal Government, have been concluded, with those found culpable set to face trial.
The Director of Defence Information, Major-General Samaila Uba, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.
Uba recalled that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) had, in October 2025, announced the arrest of the officers over acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations, adding that investigations were conducted in line with established military procedures and extant regulations.
According to him, the probe examined the totality of circumstances surrounding the conduct of the affected personnel and identified several officers with cases to answer, including allegations bordering on attempts to undermine constitutional authority.
He noted that such actions run contrary to the ethics, values, and professional standards expected of officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
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“Accordingly, officers found to have cases to answer will be formally arraigned before appropriate military judicial panels to face trial in line with the Armed Forces Act and other applicable service regulations,” Uba stated.
The defence spokesman emphasised that the measures being taken were strictly disciplinary and part of the military’s internal institutional mechanisms aimed at preserving discipline, cohesion, and operational effectiveness within the ranks.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces to professionalism, loyalty, and respect for constitutional authority, assuring the public that due process and fairness would be strictly observed throughout the proceedings.
It would be recalled that in September 2025, reports emerged alleging that 16 Nigerian military officers had been detained by military intelligence over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government, purportedly timed around Nigeria’s Independence Day celebrations on October 1.
However, the Defence Headquarters at the time dismissed the reports as false and misleading, clarifying that the officers were detained for breaches of military regulations and indiscipline, not for plotting a coup. The DHQ also explained that the cancellation of the Independence Day parade was due to administrative and security considerations, not any threat to government stability.
The military had further reiterated its loyalty to Nigeria’s democratic system and the constitutional order.