●Former Southern Governor is the coup financier
The Nigerian military has submitted to President Bola Tinubu the report of its investigation into what it described as acts of indiscipline and breach of service regulations involving 16 detained officers, amid lingering allegations that the officers were linked to an attempted coup against the administration.
Credible Presidency source confirmed to newsmen on Monday that the report was forwarded to the President after more than two months of intensive interrogation and investigations conducted by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Daily Trust reported.
The development follows reports published in October last year alleging that the officers ranging in rank from Captain to Brigadier-General were arrested for plotting to overthrow Tinubu’s government.
At the time, both the Defence Headquarters and the Presidency denied the existence of any coup attempt, insisting the arrests were purely disciplinary and unrelated to politics.
However, a source familiar with the latest investigation revealed that the DIA has concluded its assignment and formally briefed the President.
“Those who were tasked to investigate the involvement of the officers have concluded their job and submitted the report to the President. A decision by Mr President on the report will allow further actions”, the source said.
According to the source, the officers were indicted by the investigative panel and are expected to face sanctions once the President approves the recommendations.
“All I can tell you is that the officers were indicted, and they will be sanctioned accordingly when the President gives his nod.
“I cannot say for now whether they will be court-martialled, but they will face sanctions in line with standard military procedures”, the source added.
A senior official at the Presidential Villa also confirmed that the military briefed Tinubu on the outcome of the probe, describing the alleged coup plot as genuine.
“They briefed Mr President that the attempt was real. The report clearly showed that there was an attempt by the detained officers to do what the media reported they planned to do”, the source said
The source further disclosed that the Brigadier-General among the detainees was arrested not necessarily for leading the plot, but for allegedly being aware of it and failing to report it through appropriate channels.
The source also revealed that a former governor from the southern part of the country was investigated over suspicions of financing the alleged plot.
On October 29, soldiers reportedly raided the Abuja and Yenagoa residences of Timipre Sylva, former Governor of Bayelsa State and arrested his brother.
Julius Bokoru, Sylva’s media aide, had at the time dismissed attempts to link the former minister to the rumoured coup plot, describing them as “sickening” and politically motivated.
The source hinted that the prolonged detention had taken a toll on the health of some of the officers.
In a statement issued on October 4, 2025, Tukur Gusau, then Director of Defence Information, said the arrest of the 16 officers followed a routine military exercise and was related solely to indiscipline and breach of service regulations.
According to Gusau, investigations showed that the officers’ grievances were largely connected 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 preserve professionalism, loyalty and order within the Armed Forces.
Similarly, Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, had dismissed reports of a coup plot during an appearance on TVC News on October 28, insisting the government stood by the military’s explanation.
The detained officers include one Brigadier-General, one 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 learnt that 12 of the officers are from the Infantry Corps, while others are drawn from the Signals Corps, Ordnance Corps, the Navy and the Air Force.
Among them is Musa Abubakar Sadiq (Brigadier-General) an infantry officer from Nasarawa State and a member of NDA Regular Course 44, who is suspected to have played a central role in the alleged plot.
Sadiq had previously been detained in 2024 over allegations including diversion of palliatives and sale of military equipment.
Other officers listed in the report include M.A. Ma’aji (Colonel); S. Bappah (Lieutenant Colonels), A.A. Hayatu, M. Al-Makura and Dangnap; and several Majors and junior officers whose service histories span various operational and administrative roles within the Armed Forces.