DHQ has moved to arraign indicted military officers over alleged coup plot against Tinubu.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Monday announced that military personnel indicted after investigations into alleged misconduct, including claims of a plot to overthrow the government, will be arraigned before appropriate military judicial panels.
Security and military sources disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence in the Armed Forces to try the indicted officers in line with established laws and procedures.
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The development comes amid calls by a pro-democracy group urging the Federal Government to consider the health and welfare of officers detained in connection with the case.
In October 2025, the DHQ confirmed the arrest of 16 officers over acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations. Shortly after, Sahara Reporters alleged that the officers, ranging from Captain to Brigadier General were arrested for holding secret meetings aimed at toppling the government, linking the claims to the cancellation of the October 1 Independence Day parade.
At the time, the then Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau (retd), dismissed the report, insisting the matter was an internal disciplinary issue and that an investigative panel had been constituted.
Providing an update on Monday, the current Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said investigations had now been concluded and the report forwarded to the appropriate superior authority.
According to Uba, the comprehensive probe identified several officers with cases to answer over allegations of plotting to overthrow the government, conduct he described as inconsistent with the ethics, values, and professional standards of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).
He stated that those indicted would be formally arraigned before relevant military judicial panels in line with the Armed Forces Act and other service regulations, stressing that the process would ensure accountability while upholding fairness and due process.
Uba added that the measures being taken were purely disciplinary and part of institutional mechanisms to preserve order, discipline, and operational effectiveness within the military, reaffirming the AFN’s loyalty to constitutional authority.
Meanwhile, security sources revealed that investigations uncovered alleged breaches around the Presidential Villa in Abuja, with claims that some plotters had infiltrated the facility and assessed security installations before the plot was uncovered. Authorities also traced part of the alleged breach to compromised contractor staff, prompting a review of internal security protocols.
Officials said the President would not interfere with the military justice process, noting that those implicated would face a military tribunal.
In a related development, the Concerned Pro-Democratic Activists of Nigeria appealed to President Tinubu to consider the health and welfare of detained officers, citing reports of deteriorating health and prolonged detention without adequate access to family members.
While condemning any attempt to overthrow a democratically elected government, the group urged authorities to ensure fairness, proper medical care for detainees, and timely prosecution or release where no case exists.
