The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has said suspects arrested over the alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu will be released if investigations show that they have no case to answer.
Musa stated this on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, explaining why some of the suspects had yet to be prosecuted.
“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.
He explained that authorities were taking their time with the investigations to ensure that innocent individuals were not wrongly implicated, stressing that only those identified as the principal actors would 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.
According to the minister, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) are still investigating the alleged plot, while some of the suspects have already been arraigned.
“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,” he said.
Musa 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.”
When asked whether the alleged plot was politically motivated, the minister said he did not believe it was.
“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,’” he said.
He disclosed that some suspects were still at large, adding that security agencies were exercising caution to ensure that innocent people 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 alleged that a clandestine network of military officers, reportedly coordinated by an Army colonel, had begun preliminary preparations for a coup.
The report claimed that the alleged plotters conducted surveillance on critical national assets, including the Presidential Villa, the Armed Forces Complex, Niger Barracks in Abuja and major international airports.
The case later expanded beyond the military investigation after the Federal Government filed a 13-count charge against six individuals: 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 allegations including treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security information and money laundering linked to terrorism financing. The 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 proceedings before a General Court Martial.
According to reports, 36 people were listed in the military case, including Brigadier General M.A. Sadiq and Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji.
Musa stressed that the alleged coup plot must not be allowed to undermine Nigeria’s democratic system, urging Nigerians to work collectively to address the country’s challenges through constitutional and democratic means.
