The Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, has said that military personnel recently arrested over an alleged coup plot are fully aware of the consequences they may face if found guilty.
Musa stated this in an interview with TRT World Television, where he addressed public concerns about the treatment of the suspects and the welfare of their families.
According to him, the accused officers understood the implications of their actions before embarking on them and had considered the possible impact on their families.
The minister noted that despite the gravity of the allegations, the Federal Government is taking steps to ensure that the families of the suspects are treated fairly while the legal process continues.
He explained that the affected personnel would be subjected to court-martial proceedings that would be free, fair and in line with established military justice procedures.
Musa added that the suspects would have access to legal representation to defend themselves throughout the trial process.
On family welfare, the defence minister assured that the government would not abandon the wives and children of the accused, stressing that adequate support arrangements were in place.
He stressed that the suspects were not ignorant of the seriousness of the allegations against them and were prepared to face the outcome of due process.
Meanwhile, official confirmation of the alleged coup plot was made on Jan. 26, 2026, several months after the initial arrests of the affected military personnel in October 2025.
At the time, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said the officers were being investigated for acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations.
Subsequently, a special investigative panel was set up and conducted a detailed probe, identifying several officers with cases to answer.
The panel’s report, which was submitted to President Bola Tinubu, examined actions said to be inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The DHQ later confirmed that officers indicted in the report would be arraigned before appropriate military judicial panels.
It also assured that the proceedings would strictly follow the law and allow full access to legal counsel for all the accused.
Security sources reiterated that while accountability would be enforced, the government remained committed to safeguarding the welfare of the families of the affected personnel throughout the process.
