Aniefiok Christopher
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced plans by a special military court-martial to try 16 officers of the Armed Forces accused of acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations 2following the conclusion of investigations into their conduct.
The Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, stated this in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.
Recall that the DHQ had in October 2025 announced the arrest of the officers.
The Armed Forces Act of 2004 spells out death as punishment for a coup d’état—referred to as treason, mutiny, or conspiracy to overthrow the government.
Also read: Many react to ‘It’s fake news’ – Nigerian Army’s Coup scare
According to Uba, the Special Investigative Panel set up by the military has now completed its probe in line with established procedures and existing regulations.
He said the investigation reviewed all circumstances surrounding the conduct of the officers and identified several of them as having cases to answer, including allegations related to plotting to overthrow the government.
Major Gen. Uba noted that such conduct runs contrary to the ethics, values and professional standards expected of personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
He stressed that the action being taken is “purely disciplinary and part of internal institutional mechanisms to preserve discipline, cohesion and operational effectiveness within the ranks”.
Uba 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 followed throughout the court-martial proceedings.
Vanguard had earlier reported that those detained 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.
Sources listed the 16 officers as:
- Brigadier General
- Colonel
- 4 Lieutenant Colonels
- 5 Majors
- 2 Army Captains
- 1 Lieutenant Commander (Navy)
- 1 Squadron Leader (Air Force)
- 1 Army Lieutenant
The officers :
*Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq (N/10321)*: Suspected leader of the coup plot (Nasarawa, 44th Regular Course)
*Colonel M.A. Ma’aji (N/10668)*: Key strategist (Niger, 47th Course)
*Lieutenant Colonel S. Bappah (N/13036)*: Signals Corps (Bauchi, 56th Course)
*Lieutenant Colonel A.A. Hayatu (N/13038)*: Infantry Corps (Kaduna, 56th Course)
*Lieutenant Colonel P. Dangnap (N/13025)*: Infantry Corps (Plateau, 56th Course)
*Lieutenant Colonel M. Almakura (N/12983)*: Infantry Corps (Nasarawa, 56th Course)
*Major A.J. Ibrahim (N/13065)*: Infantry Corps (Gombe, 56th Course)
*Major M.M. Jiddah (N/13003)*: Infantry Corps (Katsina, 56th Course)
*Major M.A. Usman (N/15404)*: Infantry Corps (FCT, 60th Course)
*Major D. Yusuf (N/14753)*: Ordnance Corps (Gombe, 59th Course)
*Major I. Dauda (N/13625)*: Infantry Corps (Jigawa, DSSC 38)
*Captain Ibrahim Bello (N/16266)*: Infantry Corps (DSSC 43)
*Captain A.A. Yusuf (N/16724)*: Infantry Corps
*Lieutenant S.S. Felix (N/18105)*: Infantry Corps
*Lieutenant Commander D.B. Abdullahi (NN/3289)*: Nigerian Navy
*Squadron Leader S.B. Adamu (NAF/3481)*: Nigerian Air Force
