No fewer than 16 military officers indicted for plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu are facing capital punishment ranging from life imprisonment to death penalty.

This is coming after the military high command admitted that the officers who have been in detention since October 2025 were found guilty of the offence.

Retired military officers, who spoke to Daily Trust in separate interviews last night, said Nigeria’s military law prescribes death penalty for attempted coup.

In October 2025, there were reports that officers, ranging from the rank of captain to brigadier-general, were arrested and detained by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) for attempting to overthrow Tinubu’s government.

Daily Trust had exclusively reported on Monday that the panel, which probed the arrested officers, had submitted its findings to the president.

The Director, Defence Information, Samaila Uba, a Major-General, also confirmed that the probe panel had submitted its report to the “appropriate superior authority”.

Officers to face court-martial

In a statement on Monday, Uba said those with cases to answer will be formally arraigned before an appropriate military judicial panel to face trial in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and other applicable service regulations.

He said, “The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) wishes to inform the general public that investigations into the matter have been concluded and the report forwarded to the appropriate superior authority in line with extant regulations.

“The comprehensive investigation process, conducted in accordance with established military procedures, has carefully examined all circumstances surrounding the conduct of the affected personnel.

“The findings have identified a number of officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government, which is inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the AFN.

“Accordingly, those with cases to answer will be formally arraigned before an appropriate military judicial panel to face trial in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and other applicable service regulations.”

The senior military officer explained that the military made this development public in order to ensure accountability while upholding the principles of fairness and due process.

According to him, the Armed Forces remain resolute in maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, loyalty and respect for constitutional authority.

Uba added, “The AFN reiterates that measures being taken are purely disciplinary and part of ongoing institutional mechanisms to preserve order, discipline and operational effectiveness within the ranks.”

But speaking to our correspondent, two retired officers: Gen. Bashir Adewinbi (Rtd) and Major Bashir Galma (Rtd), explained that the punishment for attempted coup is death in line with the Armed Forces Act of Nigeria.

The duo said that, except the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Tinubu, temper justice with mercy, there is no way the indicted officers can come out freely from the offence.

Gen. Adewinbi said, “The coup is a criminal offence in the military, and there are penalties for it. The military high command might have denied it for the first time for them to ascertain and conclude their investigations.

“Is it real? Is it not real? Who are the people involved? Who are the actors? Now that they have concluded and submitted their report and the report has indicated that there was a coup attempt, that means, if there was a coup, everybody must be ready to face consequences for his or her actions.

“There is no two ways about it. A coup in the military attracts the death penalty.

“When you’re caught for a coup, the consequence is the death penalty. We have witnessed it so many times in Nigeria.

“However, the President can use his prerogative to take action on the type of punishment to give them, but the normal thing is death penalty to serve as a deterrence to others who are planning to truncate the democracy we are enjoying in Nigeria, because there is no need for any coup in Nigeria today.

“It is the duty of the military to protect the present democracy. We should not truncate democracy. Whoever has planned the coup should be made to pay for it. Not only the coup, but also all of these offenders like terrorists, bandits and other criminals.

“There must be a special court to try these people. That is the only way we can reduce terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria. Let’s take the bull by the horns. Let’s give them the right punishment because they see it as a way of making money.”

Major Galma said it is important for anybody joining the military to understand that he or she would be abiding by two laws – military laws and Nigeria’s constitution.

What happened to coup plotters in the past

In the past, there have been several high-profile arrests in connection with alleged coup plots.

In December 1985, Babangida’s government announced that it had thwarted a coup attempt and had arrested those responsible, including Major General Mamman Vatsa.

Thirteen military officers received the death penalty for conspiracy to commit treason and ten of them, including Vatsa, were executed by firing squad in March 1986.

In July 1995, Abacha’s government convicted 40 people of plotting a coup. Obasanjo, a former head of state, and Musa Yar’Adua were among those imprisoned.

In December 1997, Abacha’s government announced that it had thwarted a coup attempt planned by his deputy, Lieutenant General Oladipo Diya, who had narrowly escaped an assassination attempt.

Also arrested were three other generals, five colonels, and three other senior officers. Critics suspected that the alleged coup was a cover for a purge.

In April 2004, Obasanjo’s democratically elected government said that it had arrested several military officers in connection with a coup plot. Hamza al-Mustapha, Abacha’s chief of security, was suspected of involvement. (Daily Trust)

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