ABUJA: The Defence Headquarters has announced that military officers indicted after investigations into alleged acts of indiscipline and a suspected plot to overthrow the Federal Government will soon be arraigned before appropriate military judicial panels.
This was disclosed on Monday by the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, who said the investigation, which began in October 2025, had been concluded in line with established military procedures and the report forwarded to the appropriate superior authority.
Uba explained that the probe examined allegations against 16 officers earlier arrested for breaches of service regulations, adding that findings revealed that some of them had cases to answer over alleged plans to topple the government.
According to him, such conduct is inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The comprehensive investigation has been concluded and the report forwarded in line with extant regulations.
Those found culpable will be formally arraigned before relevant military judicial panels in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and other applicable service regulations,” Uba said.
He stressed that the process would ensure accountability while upholding fairness and due process, noting that the measures were purely disciplinary and aimed at preserving order, discipline and operational effectiveness within the military.
The development follows earlier reports alleging that some officers, ranging from the rank of captain to brigadier-general, were arrested by the Defence Intelligence Agency over secret meetings linked to a coup plot and the cancellation of the 2025 Independence Day parade claims that were initially dismissed by the military as an internal disciplinary matter.
However, security and military sources disclosed that investigations uncovered a breach of security at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with some of the alleged plotters said to have infiltrated the complex and conducted surveillance on security installations and vulnerabilities.
Sources further revealed that part of the breach was traced to compromised staff of Julius Berger, the construction firm responsible for maintaining the Villa, who allegedly aided access to sensitive areas.
A security source said that President Bola Tinubu had expressed full confidence in the military to handle the matter in line with the law, adding that authorities delayed public action to allow thorough investigations and close security loopholes.
Meanwhile, a pro-democracy group, the Concerned Pro-Democratic Activists of Nigeria, has appealed to the Federal Government to consider the health and welfare of detained officers, citing reports of deteriorating medical conditions and prolonged detention without access to family members.
The group’s chairman, Yusuf Dauda, while condemning any attempt to overthrow a democratically elected government, urged authorities to ensure fairness, proper medical care and due process, calling on the government to either release the officers or promptly arraign them before a competent tribunal.
