DHQ names 16 officers facing trial over alleged coup plot

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has taken a bold step towards transparency by disclosing the full identities of 16 military officers indicted for serious indiscipline, including an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

These personnel, spanning the Army, Navy, and Air Force, will face court-martial proceedings before military judicial panels.

DHQ Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, confirmed the development in a statement issued Monday in Abuja.

The announcement follows the conclusion of a comprehensive investigation launched after the officers’ arrest in October 2025, emphasizing the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s (AFN) resolve to uphold discipline.

DHQ Investigation Concludes: From Arrest to Indictment

The probe, conducted per established procedures and extant regulations, scrutinized acts of indiscipline and breaches of service codes.

Uba noted that several officers emerged with “cases to answer,” their actions deemed “inconsistent with the ethics, values, and professional standards expected of members of the AFN.”

This builds on the DHQ’s October 2025 alert, which initially flagged the arrests without naming names.

The decision to release identities now underscores accountability, allowing public scrutiny while protecting operational security.

Military judicial panels, akin to courts-martial, will adjudicate, with potential penalties including dismissal, demotion, or imprisonment under the Armed Forces Act.

Full List of Indicted Officers: Ranks, Names, and Origins

For the first time, media outlets like Vanguard have published the complete roster, revealing a mix of senior and junior officers predominantly from the Army’s Infantry, Signals, and Ordnance Corps.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq (Nasarawa, 44th Regular Course) – The highest-ranking, potentially a key figure.
• Colonel M. A. Ma’aji (Niger, 47th Regular Course)
• Lieutenant Colonel S. Bappah (Bauchi, 56th Regular Course)
• Lieutenant Colonel A. A. Hayatu (Kaduna, 56th Regular Course)
• Lieutenant Colonel Dangnan (Plateau, 56th Regular Course)
• Lieutenant Colonel M. Almakura (Nasarawa, 56th Regular Course)
• Major A. J. Ibrahim (Gombe, 56th Regular Course)
• Major M. M. Jiddah (Katsina, 56th Regular Course)
• Major M. A. Usman (Federal Capital Territory, 60th Regular Course)
• Major D. Yusuf (Gombe, 59th Regular Course)
• Major I. Dauda (Jigawa, DSSC 38)
• Captain I. Bello (DSSC 43)
• Captain A. A. Yusuf
• Lieutenant S. S. Felix (DSSC)
• Lieutenant Commander D. B. Abdullahi (Nigerian Navy)
• Squadron Leader S. B. Adamu (Nigerian Air Force)

Geographically, the officers hail from northern states like Bauchi, Gombe, Katsina, and Kaduna, with courses spanning the Nigerian Defence Academy’s Regular Combatant and Direct Short Service Commissions.

This diversity hints at networked grievances rather than isolated dissent.

Allegations at the Core: Plotting Regime Change

Central to the charges is an alleged conspiracy to topple President Tinubu’s government, a treasonous offense carrying severe repercussions.

Uba framed it as a betrayal of AFN ethos, incompatible with loyalty to the constitutional Commander-in-Chief.

Whispers in defence corridors suggest discussions of subversive logistics, possibly amplified by economic hardships and insecurity.

Nigeria’s coup-prone history, from the 1966 Igbo-led putsch to Buhari’s 1983 intervention, lends gravity.

Recent echoes include the foiled 2017 plot and 2021 election meddling probes.

Under Tinubu’s tenure, marked by fuel subsidy removal and naira floats, military loyalty faces tests amid public unrest.

Corps Breakdown: Infantry, Signals, and Ordnance Dominance

A corps analysis reveals:

• Infantry-heavy: Core combat arm, often frontline in counter-insurgency.
• Signals: Intelligence and communications experts, critical for ops coordination.
• Ordnance: Logistics and weaponry handlers, vital for sustainment.

Inter-service inclusion (Navy’s Abdullahi, Air Force’s Adamu) suggests cross-branch coordination, raising alarms about broader fissures.

The 56th Regular Course cluster (multiple Lt Colonels and Majors) points to academy-era bonds.

Judicial Path: Court-Martial Procedures Explained

Trials will unfold via General Courts-Martial, convened by superior authorities.

Panels ensure due process: accused rights to counsel, evidence presentation, and appeals to the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court.

Uba pledged fairness, aligning with human rights norms.

Outcomes could reshape careers; Brig. Gen. Sadiq, for instance, might face retirement in disgrace.

Precedents like the 2020 execution of 12 Boko Haram collaborators affirm severity.

Broader Ramifications for National Security

This scandal arrives amid AFN strains: Boko Haram resurgence, banditry in Zamfara, and IPOB clashes.

With 250,000+ troops, cohesion is paramount. Analysts link plots to welfare gaps, 2025 audits revealed promotion delays and kit shortages.

Public discourse rages on X and Facebook, with #TinubuCoup trending.

SERAP demands civilian monitoring, while APC loyalists decry opposition orchestration.

The list’s northern tilt fuels ethnic narratives, though DHQ insists merit-based justice.

Tinubu Administration’s Response and Reforms

President Tinubu, briefed per protocol, reaffirmed military backing while urging probes.

His 2024 Defence Reforms Bill bolsters oversight, including parliamentary scrutiny.

Service chiefs like CDS Gen. Musa prioritize loyalty oaths and anti-corruption drives.

Economically, palliatives target troops, but experts advocate holistic fixes: better pay, VAIDS for veterans, and AI-driven intel to preempt threats.

Public Trust and Transparency Milestone

By naming names, DHQ breaks from secrecy, fostering accountability.

Yet challenges persist: media blackouts during trials? Family impacts?

International watchers like the US AFRICOM note this as a democratic litmus test.

Civil society urges hybrid courts for legitimacy. As Nigeria eyes 2027 polls, quelling barracks unrest fortifies stability.

Looking Ahead: Deterrence or Watershed?

These trials could deter adventurism, echoing post-1999 professionalization.

Success hinges on swift, transparent justice, reinforcing AFN as democracy’s guardian, not contender.

The nation awaits verdicts, hoping they cement constitutional fidelity amid turbulent times.