The Defence Headquarters has formally acknowledged that a group of military officers will face trial for their alleged involvement in a plot to overthrow the government, signaling a clear stance on the matter after earlier statements framed their actions as purely disciplinary.
In Abuja on Monday, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said that investigations into the conduct of 16 officers arrested in October 2025 have been concluded in accordance with military procedures. The probe reportedly identified several officers with credible allegations linking them to actions inconsistent with the ethics, values, and professional standards expected of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria 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,” Major General Uba said. He added that those implicated will be formally arraigned before military judicial panels and face trial under the Armed Forces Act and other applicable service regulations.
Major General Uba emphasized that the proceedings are part of institutional mechanisms to maintain order, discipline, and operational effectiveness within the military. He assured that due process and fairness will govern the trials, reaffirming the military’s commitment to professionalism, loyalty, and respect for constitutional authority.
The 16 officers were initially detained for alleged acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations. The confirmation linking some of them to a coup plot comes more than three months after their arrest and represents the first official acknowledgment by the Defence Headquarters of a potential internal threat to Nigeria’s democratic order.
