The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced that 16 officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) accused of acts of indiscipline, including alleged coup plotting, will be tried before a military court-martial.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, the Director of Defence Information, Major-General Samaila Uba, said the decision followed the conclusion of investigations by a Special Investigative Panel constituted to probe the officers. He noted that the alleged actions of the affected personnel are in violation of service regulations and inconsistent with the ethics and professional standards of the Nigerian military.
According to the DHQ, the investigation thoroughly examined all circumstances surrounding the conduct of the officers and identified those with cases to answer, including allegations bordering on an attempt to overthrow the government.
“It would be recalled that the Defence Headquarters issued a press statement in October 2025 regarding the arrest of 16 officers over acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations,” the statement said. “Investigations into the matter have now been concluded, and the report has been forwarded to the appropriate superior authority in line with extant regulations.”
Major-General Uba stressed that the ongoing process is strictly disciplinary and forms part of internal institutional mechanisms designed to preserve discipline, cohesion, and operational effectiveness within the Armed Forces. He added that the court-martial proceedings will be conducted under the Armed Forces Act and other relevant service regulations to ensure fairness and due process.
The DHQ reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces to professionalism, loyalty, and respect for constitutional authority, assuring the public that justice will be administered transparently.
Sources disclosed that the officers in custody cut across the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with most drawn from the Infantry, Signals, and Ordnance Corps. Those implicated include a Brigadier-General, Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels, Majors, Captains, and junior officers.
Nigeria’s history of military coups between 1966 and 1993 has made allegations of coup plotting particularly sensitive, underscoring the significance of the ongoing proceedings.
