The Nigerian Army has submitted its investigation report to President Bola Tinubu, detailing indiscipline and violation of service rules involving 16 detained officers, amid allegations that the officers were linked to a coup attempt against the administration.
A reliable presidency source confirmed to journalists on Monday that the report was forwarded to the President by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) after more than two months of intensive interrogation and investigation, Daily Trust reports.
The development follows reports published in October last year which alleged that officers ranging from Captain to Brigadier-General were arrested for plotting to overthrow Tinubu's government.
At the time, both the Defense Headquarters and the Presidency denied the existence of any coup attempt, insisting that the arrests were purely disciplinary and unrelated to politics.
However, a source familiar with the latest investigation revealed that the DIA has completed its work and has formally briefed the President.
“Those who were assigned the task of investigating the involvement of the officers have completed their work and submitted the report to the President. Further action will be taken upon the decision of Mr. President on the report,” the source said.
According to the source, the officials were found guilty by the inquiry panel and may face sanctions after the President approves the recommendations.
“All I can tell you is that the officers were convicted, and when the President gives his approval they will be sanctioned accordingly.
“I can't say right now whether he will be court-martialed or not, but he will face sanctions in line with standard military procedures,” the source said.
A senior official at the Presidential Villa also confirmed that the military briefed Tinubu on the outcome of the investigation, stating that the alleged coup plot was genuine.
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The source said, “They told Mr. President that the attempt was genuine. The report clearly showed that the detained officers had attempted to do exactly what the media had reported they were planning to do.”
The source further revealed that the brigadier-general among the detainees was not arrested for leading the plot, but for allegedly having knowledge of it and failing to report it through proper channels.
The source also revealed that a former governor of the southern part of the country was investigated on suspicion of financing the alleged plot.
On October 29, soldiers reportedly raided the Abuja and Yenagoa residences of former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva and arrested his brother.
Silva's media aide Julius Bokoru at the time rejected attempts to link the former minister to the rumored coup plot, calling them “sad” and politically motivated.
The source indicated that prolonged detention had taken a toll on the health of some officers.
In a statement issued on October 4, 2025, then Director of Defense Information Tukur Gusau said that the arrest of 16 officers was made after a routine military exercise and was completely related to indiscipline and violation of service rules.
According to Gusau, the investigation revealed that the officers' complaints were largely linked to perceived career stagnation, repeated failure in promotion examinations, and other service-related issues.
He stressed that the arrests were part of routine disciplinary measures to maintain professionalism, loyalty and order within the armed forces.
Similarly, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, dismissed reports of a coup plot during an appearance on TVC News on 28 October, and insisted that the government stood by the military's explanation.
The detained officers include a Brigadier-General, a Colonel, four Lieutenant Colonels, five Majors, two Captains, a Lieutenant, a Lieutenant Commander of the Nigerian Navy and a Squadron Leader of the Nigerian Air Force.
It was revealed that 12 officers are from the Infantry Corps, while the others are drawn from the Signal Corps, Ordnance Corps, Navy and Air Force.
These include Musa Abubakar Sadiq (Brigadier-General), an infantry officer from Nasarawa State and member of the NDA Regular Course 44, who is suspected of playing a central role in the alleged plot.
Sadiq was earlier detained in 2024 on charges including misappropriation of sedatives and sale of military equipment.
Other officers listed in the report include MA Maji (Colonel); S. Bappa (Lieutenant Colonel), AA Hayatu, M. Al-Makura and Dangnap; and a number of Majors and junior officers whose service history extends to various operational and administrative roles within the armed forces.
