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By Newsmakers
Jan 26, 2026 #Armed Forces Act Nigeria, #Armed Forces of Nigeria court-martial, #Defence Headquarters coup allegations, #DHQ arrests October 2025, #Maj Gen Samaila Uba statement, #military judicial panel Nigeria, #Nigerian military coup plot, #Nigerian military discipline crackdown, #officers accused of overthrow plot
Malik Yahya/
The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has confirmed that some of the 16 officers arrested for acts of indiscipline are being investigated for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government, as the military prepares to begin court-martial proceedings.
The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, disclosed this in a statement issued today in Abuja, announcing that investigations into the case have been concluded.
Uba recalled that the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) had, in October 2025, announced the arrest of the officers following allegations of serious misconduct and breaches of service regulations.
According to him, the completed investigation reviewed the circumstances surrounding the actions of the affected personnel and established that a number of them have cases to answer, including allegations bordering on a coup plot.
He stated that such conduct runs contrary to the ethics, values and professional standards expected of members of the Armed Forces.
“Accordingly, officers found to have cases to answer will be formally arraigned before appropriate military judicial panels to face trial in line with the Armed Forces Act and other applicable service regulations,” the defence spokesman stated.
Maj.-Gen. Uba stressed that the action being taken is purely disciplinary and part of the military’s internal mechanisms to safeguard discipline, cohesion and operational effectiveness within the ranks.
He also reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces to professionalism, loyalty and respect for constitutional authority, assuring Nigerians that due process and fairness will guide the proceedings from start to finish.
Below are the full names and ranks of the 16 indicted officers:
Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq (Nasarawa, 44th Regular Course)
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).