“Yes, There Was Plot To Overthrow Tinubu’s Government” – DHQ

By Akinwale Kasali

The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, on Monday, finally, confirmed there was a plot to overthrow the Government of President Bola Tinubu. Before now, the DHQ had vehemently denied there was any such plot when it became public that 16 Military Officers had been arrested and were in custody over the alleged plot.

In deed, when the October 1 Independence parade was suddenly cancelled, not a few people attributed it to the aborted plot as speculations were that, perhaps, it could have been carried out that day, possibly, beginning from the parade ground.

However, in accepting that there was such a plot, DHQ, in a statement said it would  set up a Special Investigative Panel over the alleged aborted coup plot.

The  16 Officers involved would be charged for indiscipline, and acts contrary to service regulations, and other breaches.

The DHQ added that the Officers will face a Military Court Martial.

Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, made this disclosure  in a statement in Abuja, the nation’s Capital.

In October 2025, the DHQ had announced the arrest of the officers who have since been under  investigations which has  now been completed in line with established military procedures and extant regulations.

Major Gen Uba said the investigation examined all circumstances surrounding the conduct of the affected personnel and identified a number of officers with cases to answer, including allegations bordering on plotting to overthrow the government.

He said such actions were inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards expected of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

He emphasised that the measures being taken were “purely disciplinary and part of internal institutional mechanisms to preserve discipline, cohesion and operational effectiveness within the ranks”.

He reaffirmed “the commitment of the Armed Forces to professionalism, loyalty and respect for constitutional authority, assuring the public that due process and fairness would be strictly observed throughout the proceedings”.

The detained officers include a Brigadier-General, a Colonel, four Lieutenant Colonels, five Majors, two Captains, a Lieutenant, a Lieutenant Commander from the Nigerian Navy and a Squadron Leader from the Nigerian Air Force.

Their names were given as:

• Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq (Nasarawa, 44th Regular Course)

• Colonel M.A. Ma’aji (Niger, 47th Course)

• Lt Col S. Bappah (Bauchi, 56th Course)

• Lt Col A.A. Hayatu (Kaduna, 56th Course)

• Lt Col Dangnan (Plateau, 56th Course)

• Lt Col M. Almakura (Nasarawa, 56th Course)

□Major A.J. Ibrahim (Gombe, 56th Course)

• Major M.M. Jiddah (Katsina, 56th Course)

• Major M.A. Usman (FCT, 60th Course)

• Major D. Yusuf (Gombe, 59th 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 (Navy)

• Squadron Leader S.B. Adamu (Air Force)

It is gathered that most of the officers belong to the Infantry Corps, Signals Corps, and Ordnance Corps.