FOILED PLOT: Nigerian Military Confirms Attempt to Unseat Tinubu as 16 Officers Face Court-Martial
Nigeria’s Military high command has formally confirmed that a group of serving officers attempted to illegally undermine the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ending weeks of speculation and controversy surrounding the arrest and detention of senior and mid-ranking personnel across the Armed Forces.
In a statement issued by the Defence Headquarters and personally signed by its spokesperson, Major General Samaila Uba, the Armed Forces of Nigeria acknowledged that internal investigations uncovered conduct amounting to a coordinated effort to destabilise the constitutionally elected Government.
This disclosure represents a notable shift from the military’s earlier public position, which had described the arrests as routine probes into “indiscipline and breach of service regulations.” That explanation had triggered sustained criticism from civil society groups and relatives of the detained officers, who questioned the secrecy and prolonged nature of the investigations.
Court-Martial Proceedings Ordered
According to Defence Headquarters, all officers implicated in the alleged plot will now be tried before military judicial panels in line with established service laws and regulations. The military leadership emphasised that due process would be strictly observed while reiterating its loyalty to democratic governance and civilian authority.
Major General Uba stated that the investigations revealed actions “inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards expected of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” adding that the disciplinary process is aimed at safeguarding internal cohesion, command integrity and operational effectiveness.
Profile of the Indicted Officers
Of the 16 officers named, 14 are from the Nigerian Army, with one officer each from the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force. Their quiet arrests across different commands had earlier fuelled widespread reports of a coup plot, which the military initially declined to confirm.
Security analysts note that the development is particularly sensitive given Nigeria’s history of military interventions in governance prior to the return to civilian rule in 1999.
Full List of Officers Indicted
Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq (Nasarawa State, 44th Regular Course)
Colonel M. A. Ma’aji (Niger State, 47th Regular Course)
Lieutenant Colonel S. Bappah (Bauchi State, 56th Regular Course)
Lieutenant Colonel A. A. Hayatu (Kaduna State, 56th Regular Course)
Lieutenant Colonel Dangnan (Plateau State, 56th Regular Course)
Lieutenant Colonel M. Almakura (Nasarawa State, 56th Regular Course)
Major A. J. Ibrahim (Gombe State, 56th Regular Course)
Major M. M. Jiddah (Katsina State, 56th Regular Course)
Major M. A. Usman (Federal Capital Territory, 60th Regular Course)
Major D. Yusuf (Gombe State, 59th Regular Course)
Major I. Dauda (Jigawa State, DSSC 38)
Captain I. Bello (DSSC 43)
Captain A. A. Yusuf
Lieutenant S. S. Felix (DSSC)
Lieutenant Commander D. B. Abdullahi (Nigerian Navy)
Squadron Leader S. B. Adamu (Nigerian Air Force)
Global and National Significance
The Military’s confirmation has drawn international attention, as Nigeria remains a key political and economic anchor in West Africa. Observers say the disclosure is intended to reassure both domestic and foreign partners of the Armed Forces’ commitment to constitutional democracy amid ongoing economic reforms and security challenges under the Tinubu administration.
For Global Mirror News, the episode underscores the fragile balance of civil–military relations in emerging democracies and highlights the continued importance of transparency and accountability in safeguarding democratic institutions.
