Nigeria to Court-Martial Officers Alleged to Have Plotted Coup Against Tinubu
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s military announced Monday it will prosecute several officers accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu in a failed coup attempt last year, acknowledging a scheme the government initially denied. The move comes after months of speculation and follows a significant reshuffling of the country’s top military leadership.
The announcement, made by Major General Samaila Uba, a spokesman for the Defence Headquarters, confirms reports first surfacing in October when 16 officers were arrested on charges of “issues of indiscipline.” Sources within the Nigerian government and military subsequently told the Agence France-Presse the arrests were linked to a coup plot.
A successful overthrow would have ended Nigeria’s 25-year stretch of democratic rule, a fragile transition following decades of military juntas after independence from Britain in 1960. The country transitioned to civilian rule in 1999, but the specter of military intervention has lingered.
While the government initially dismissed the allegations, the subsequent shakeup of the military brass signaled internal concern. Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, was removed in the reshuffle, though he has since been appointed Defence Minister. A senior administration official, speaking to AFP at the time, suggested the initial denials stemmed from a perceived intelligence failure. “Normally when such a thing happens, it means there is a gap in intelligence. No leader would accept that,” the official said.
The timing of the alleged coup attempt coincided with a period of heightened security challenges for Nigeria. The military is currently battling a long-running insurgency in the northeast waged by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Despite a decline in the intensity of the conflict from its peak a decade ago, attacks continue, including those targeting military bases.
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Adding to the strain, the military is also confronting armed banditry in the northwest, where kidnapping for ransom is rampant, and separatist movements in the southeast. Analysts warned of escalating violence in 2025, fueled by factors including reported unpaid wages and poor conditions for troops.
The United States has responded by launching joint strikes against Islamic State Sahel Province militants in the northwest and increasing intelligence sharing to support Nigerian air strikes across the north. This increased collaboration underscores the international concern over regional instability.
The potential penalties for the accused officers are severe. Legal experts say a conviction could result in the death penalty. No date has been set for the military trials.
The attempted coup also briefly intersected with a diplomatic dispute involving the United States. Former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized Nigeria for allegedly failing to adequately protect Christians from violence, diverting attention from the internal political turmoil.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation with over 223 million people (World Bank, 2023 data), faces significant hurdles in consolidating its democracy and addressing the complex security challenges that threaten its stability. The prosecution of these officers represents a critical test for the Tinubu administration and its commitment to upholding civilian rule.
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Published January 27, 2026 03:39 am IST.