Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed that investigations into 16 serving officers earlier arrested over acts of indiscipline and breach of service regulations have been concluded.
It revealed that findings indicated that some of them were allegedly involved in plotting to overthrow the government.
In a statement issued today and signed by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Samaila Uba, the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) said the outcome of the probe had been forwarded to appropriate superior authorities in line with extant military regulations.
The military disclosed that a “comprehensive investigation process, conducted in accordance with established military procedures,” had examined the circumstances surrounding the conduct of the affected personnel.
Despite earlier official denials of any coup plot, the statement by the DHQ now formally acknowledges that allegations of plotting to overthrow the government were among the findings against some of the detained officers.
According to the AFN, “the findings have 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 AFN.”
The DHQ added that officers found to have a case to answer would be subjected to trial.
“Accordingly, those with cases to answer will be formally arraigned before appropriate military judicial panel to face trial in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and other applicable service regulations,” the statement noted.
The military insisted that the actions being taken were strictly internal disciplinary measures.
“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,” it said, adding that the Armed Forces remain “resolute in maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, loyalty and respect for constitutional authority.”
The DHQ’s confirmation comes months after several officers across the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force were arrested in Abuja over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
At the time, both the Defence Headquarters and the Presidency denied any coup-related motive, describing the arrests as connected only to internal disciplinary issues.
However, multiple senior security sources later confirmed that the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) had submitted a detailed report of its internal investigation to President Tinubu after more than two months of interrogations and reviews.
According to officials, the probe focused on acts described by the military as “indiscipline and breach of service regulations,” but evidence presented to the President allegedly suggested that the issues went beyond routine infractions.
