Alleged coup plot: DHQ to arraign officers as investigation concludes

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says officers indicted after investigations into alleged misconduct, including claims of a plot to overthrow the government, will be arraigned before appropriate military judicial panels.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said investigations into the arrest of 16 officers in October 2025 had been concluded and the report forwarded to the relevant superior authority in line with military regulations.

Uba said the investigation identified several officers with cases to answer over allegations of plotting to overthrow the government, conduct he described as inconsistent with the ethics and professional standards of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN). Those indicted, he said, would face trial under the Armed Forces Act and applicable service regulations.

“The measures being taken are purely disciplinary,” Uba said, adding that the process would ensure accountability while upholding fairness and due process.

Security and military sources said President Bola Tinubu had been briefed on the findings and expressed confidence in the military to handle the matter in accordance with the law.

The arrests were first announced by the DHQ in October 2025 as cases of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations. Shortly afterwards, reports alleged that the officers—ranging in rank from Captain to Brigadier General—were arrested over an alleged coup plot linked to the cancellation of the October 1 Independence Day parade. At the time, the military dismissed the claims as false and described the matter as an internal disciplinary issue.

Read Also: No more excuses: Nigeria in a world learning to live without certainties

Alleged breach of Presidential Villa security

A report by The Punch cites security and military sources saying that investigators uncovered evidence suggesting that some of the alleged plotters had gained access to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, carried out surveillance, and assessed security installations and vulnerabilities before the plot was uncovered.

According to the sources, part of the security breach was traced to staff linked to Julius Berger, the construction firm responsible for building and maintaining the Villa. Some staff members were said to have been compromised, providing access to sensitive areas of the presidential complex.

The Presidential Villa, also known as Aso Rock, is one of the country’s most secure facilities, guarded by elite military units, intelligence operatives and private contractors. Intelligence reports in October 2025 flagged unusual activity around the Villa, prompting closer monitoring.

A Presidential Villa security source also said that the President would not intervene to halt the process. “The report is already with the President, confirming there was indeed a planned coup, and the military will definitely carry out its action,” the source said.

The source added that authorities delayed immediate action and public disclosure to allow for thorough investigations and to close security loopholes before moving against those involved.