By: The daily torch media
No fewer than 16 serving officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces are to face court-martial over allegations of plotting to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The officers, drawn from various ranks ranging from captain to brigadier-general, were arrested in October 2025 following a high-level investigation by the Defence Intelligence Agency. They have remained in custody since their arrest.
Confirming the development, the Director of Defence Information, Major-General Samaila Uba, said the military investigative panel set up to probe the alleged coup plot has concluded its assignment and submitted its report to the appropriate authorities.
According to Uba, officers found to have cases to answer will be formally arraigned before a military judicial panel in line with the Armed Forces Act and established service regulations. He noted that the investigation followed due process and examined all circumstances surrounding the conduct of the affected personnel.
Retired senior military officers have described attempted coups as capital offences under military law, punishable by life imprisonment or death, unless mitigated by presidential clemency. They stressed that members of the Armed Forces are bound by both military law and the Nigerian Constitution.
Nigeria has a history of coup allegations and trials, with severe penalties imposed on officers found guilty in past cases. The military authorities have reiterated their commitment to accountability, discipline, and the protection of Nigeria’s democratic system.
