DHQ to Court-Martial 16 Officers as Military Confirms Plot to Overthrow President Tinubu

Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information

The Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has officially confirmed that 16 military officers will face a general court-martial for an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The announcement, made on Monday, January 26, 2026, marks a dramatic reversal of the military’s previous stance. In October 2025, when the officers were first detained, the DHQ dismissed reports of a coup as "false and misleading", insisting the arrests were related solely to "acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations".

However, a comprehensive investigation conducted by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has now validated the existence of a coordinated attempt to subvert constitutional authority. The findings have been formally submitted to President Tinubu, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

Major General Samaila Uba, the Director of Defence Information, stated that the probe concluded several personnel have significant cases to answer. He characterised their actions as being "inconsistent with the ethics, values, and professional standards required of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN)."

“The findings have identified a number of the officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government,” Major General Uba said in an official statement. “Accordingly, those with cases to answer will be formally arraigned before appropriate military judicial panels to face trial in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and other applicable service regulations.”

The indicted group reportedly includes one brigadier general, one colonel, four lieutenant colonels, five majors, two captains, a lieutenant, a lieutenant commander of the Nigerian Navy, and a squadron leader of the Nigerian Air Force. 

The military maintains that the upcoming judicial proceedings are part of an internal mechanism to uphold order and institutional integrity. Major General Uba emphasised that the measures are "purely disciplinary" and intended to preserve the operational effectiveness of the ranks while ensuring fairness and due process for the accused.

The plot was reportedly linked to the abrupt cancellation of the October 1 Independence Day parade last year, an event the military previously claimed was suspended for administrative reasons.

If convicted of treason or mutiny, the officers could face the death penalty under Nigerian military law. No specific date has been set for the commencement of the court-martial, but the DHQ has assured the public that the process will be transparent and aligned with the constitutional role of the military under democratic authority.