The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has said suspects arrested in connection with the alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu will be released if investigations establish that they have no case to answer.
Musa made this known during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, while explaining why some of the suspects linked to the alleged coup plot have yet to face prosecution.
“So, if you don’t have any case, after the investigation, they’ll be released. Those that have serious issues are the ones that are going…”
The minister said security agencies were taking their time with the investigations to prevent innocent people from being wrongly implicated.
According to him, only suspects identified as key actors in the alleged plot should ultimately face prosecution.
“We want to take time to make sure that anybody that is freed doesn’t deserve to be punished. All those ones that will go for prosecution should be the ones that are actually the main actors.”
Musa said the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) were still investigating the matter, while some suspects had already been arraigned before the courts.
“I think they’ve been investigated. They’ve taken them to court, so it’s still with the courts. It’s not with us; it’s still with the courts.”
The defence minister maintained that the alleged coup plot was genuine, saying those involved intended to execute it.
He described the alleged plotters as “a bunch of misguided individuals” and dismissed the suggestion that the alleged attempt was politically motivated.
Asked whether politics was behind the alleged plan, Musa said he did not believe that was the case.
He suggested that some of those allegedly involved may have been influenced by memories of previous military regimes and the political positions military officers occupied during those periods.
“No. I think the intent of the plotters is they just probably reminisce about the past military regimes, how they became governors and became ministers and all this, and they felt, ‘Man, it’s been a long time. Maybe it’s time for us to also be able to benefit from that.’”
Musa added that some suspects connected to the matter remained at large, stressing that investigators were exercising caution to ensure that people who were not involved were not wrongly accused.
The alleged coup plot dates back to October 2025, when the Defence Headquarters announced the arrest of 16 senior military officers over alleged acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations. The arrests were subsequently linked by the military to an alleged plan to overthrow the Tinubu administration.
An interim investigation report later indicated that a clandestine network of military officers, allegedly coordinated by an Army colonel, had been involved in preliminary planning for a coup.
The report alleged that the plotters conducted surveillance of critical national assets, including the Presidential Villa, Armed Forces Complex, Niger Barracks in Abuja and major international airports.
The matter later expanded beyond the military investigation after the Federal Government filed a 13-count charge against six individuals, including retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Islamic cleric Abdulkadir Sani.
Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, was also listed as being at large.
The six defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include allegations bordering on treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security information and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.
A Federal High Court in Abuja subsequently ordered an accelerated hearing of the case.
Meanwhile, serving military officers accused of involvement in the alleged plot are facing separate proceedings before a General Court Martial.
PUNCH reported that 36 individuals were listed in the military case, including Brigadier General M.A. Sadiq and Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji.
Musa said the alleged coup attempt should not be allowed to undermine Nigeria’s democratic system, urging citizens to work collectively to address the country’s challenges through democratic institutions and processes
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