No fewer than 16 serving officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces are set to face court-martial following allegations that they plotted to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—an offence that attracts penalties ranging from life imprisonment to death under Nigeria’s military laws.
The development comes after the conclusion of a high-level military investigation into the alleged coup plot, which reportedly began with a series of arrests in October 2025.
The suspects, drawn from various ranks spanning captain to brigadier-general, were detained by the Defence Intelligence Agency and have remained in custody since their arrest.
Confirming the development this week, the Director of Defence Information, Major-General Samaila Uba, disclosed that the investigative panel constituted by the military has completed its assignment and submitted its findings to the appropriate authorities.
In a statement, Uba said officers found to have cases to answer would be formally arraigned before a military judicial panel in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and other extant service regulations. He explained that the investigation was conducted strictly in line with established military procedures and thoroughly examined the circumstances surrounding the conduct of the affected personnel.
According to him, the probe identified several officers whose actions were adjudged to be inconsistent with the ethics, values, and professional standards expected of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. He added that the decision to make the outcome public was taken in the interest of transparency and accountability, while still ensuring fairness and due process.
Reacting to the development, retired senior military officers described the offence as extremely grave, stressing that attempted coups are classified as capital offences under military law, with punishment prescribed as death unless mitigated by presidential clemency.
Speaking separately, retired General Bashir Adewinbi and Major Bashir Galma explained that the Armed Forces Act clearly stipulates the death penalty for attempted coups. They noted that only the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Tinubu, has the constitutional authority to temper justice with mercy.
Gen. Adewinbi stated that coup plotting is a criminal offence in the military with clearly defined consequences, noting that initial denials by the military high command often serve to allow thorough investigations.
According to him, once an investigation confirms the existence of a coup attempt, all those involved must be prepared to face the full weight of the law.
“There is no ambiguity about it,” he said. “A coup in the military attracts the death penalty. We have seen this repeatedly in Nigeria’s history.”
He added that while the President may exercise prerogative of mercy, the standard punishment remains death, largely to serve as a deterrent and to protect Nigeria’s democratic order. He stressed that the duty of the military is to safeguard democracy, not to undermine it.
Major Galma, on his part, emphasized that anyone who joins the military must understand that they are subject to both the Nigerian Constitution and military law, adding that ignorance of these laws offers no protection.
Nigeria has a long history of coup allegations and military trials. Notably, Major-General Mamman Vatsa and others were executed in 1986 over an alleged coup plot, while several senior officers and civilians were jailed during the 1990s under the regime of late General Sani Abacha for similar offences.
