Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has for the first time officially acknowledged that a high-level investigation into alleged misconduct by senior military officers uncovered credible evidence suggesting a plot to overthrow the federal government, with those implicated now set to face military judicial proceedings.
The DHQ’s confirmation, issued on Monday by the new Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, marks a significant shift from earlier positions that framed the matter as an internal disciplinary issue.
In October 2025, the DHQ initially announced the arrest of 16 military officers, ranging in rank from Captain to Brigadier-General, for “acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations.”
At the time, online outlets including Sahara Reporters had alleged that the officers were detained for secretly planning to topple the government and that the cancellation of the October 1 Independence Day parade was connected to the supposed coup plot.
Then-Director of Defence Information Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau responded by dismissing such reports as attempts to stoke tension, insisting the matter was a routine disciplinary issue to be handled within military channels. “The ongoing investigation involving the sixteen officers is a routine internal process aimed at ensuring discipline and professionalism are maintained within the ranks,” he said at the time.
Major General Uba told journalists on Monday that a comprehensive investigation, conducted in accordance with established military procedures, has now been completed and the findings forwarded to the appropriate superior authority.
According to the DHQ statement, the probe “identified a number of the officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government, which is inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).”
Uba explained that while the military remained committed to discipline and order within its ranks, those officers with cases to answer will be formally arraigned before relevant military judicial panels in line with the Armed Forces Act and other applicable service regulations.
He stressed that the process would “ensure accountability while upholding fairness and due process,” and reiterated that the disciplinary actions taken are part of “ongoing institutional mechanisms aimed at preserving order, discipline and operational effectiveness within the ranks.”
The DHQ emphasised that maintaining professional standards and respect for constitutional authority remains paramount for the Nigerian military, which “remains resolute in maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, loyalty, and respect for constitutional authority.”
While the announcement stops short of labelling the events a formal “coup attempt” in the legal sense, the acknowledgment that some officers face charges linked to alleged plotting has drawn renewed public and legal attention. Human rights and legal voices have previously called on the military to either arraign or release the detained personnel, arguing that prolonged detention without formal charges undermines due process rights.
Since the initial arrests late last year, there has been vigorous public debate. Some media outlets and social commentators have treated the alleged coup narrative as credible, while the DHQ and government spokespeople repeatedly denied any official linkage between the parade cancellation and an overthrow plot.
At this stage, the court-martial process, rather than public political trial, appears likely to be the main forum for determining the specific charges and outcomes for the indicted officers, as the military balances internal discipline with broader constitutional responsibilities.
