At least 16 Nigerian military officers, detained since October 2025 over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government, now face severe penalties including life imprisonment or death by firing squad, following the conclusion of a high-level military investigation.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) confirmed on Monday that a special probe panel had completed its inquiries and forwarded its findings to the appropriate superior authority. Those implicated in the coup allegations will be arraigned before a military judicial panel for trial under the Armed Forces Act and relevant service regulations.
In a statement, Director of Defence Information, Major-General Samaila Uba, stated: “The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) wishes to inform the general public that investigations into the matter have been concluded and the report forwarded to the appropriate superior authority in line with extant regulations.”
He added that the probe “has carefully examined all circumstances surrounding the conduct of the affected personnel,” identifying several officers with “allegations of plotting to overthrow the government, which is inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the AFN.”
Uba emphasized the military’s commitment to accountability, fairness, and due process, noting: “The AFN reiterates that measures being taken are purely disciplinary and part of ongoing institutional mechanisms to preserve order, discipline and operational effectiveness within the ranks.”
Retired military officers who spoke to Daily Trust warned that the law leaves little room for leniency. Gen. Bashir Adewinbi (Rtd) declared: “A coup in the military attracts the death penalty. When you’re caught for a coup, the consequence is the death penalty. We have witnessed it so many times in Nigeria.”
He continued: “However, the President can use his prerogative to take action on the type of punishment to give them, but the normal thing is death penalty to serve as a deterrence to others who are planning to truncate the democracy we are enjoying in Nigeria… It is the duty of the military to protect the present democracy. We should not truncate democracy.”
Major Bashir Galma (Rtd) stressed the dual obligations of service members: “It is important for anybody joining the military to understand that he or she would be abiding by two laws – military laws and Nigeria’s constitution.”
The arrests, which involved officers from the rank of captain to brigadier-general, were initially linked to acts of indiscipline but later tied to coup plotting by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA). The development revives memories of past Nigerian coup trials, including the 1986 execution of Major General Mamman Vatsa and nine others under Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, and convictions during Gen. Sani Abacha’s regime.
