ABUJA, Nigeria — Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has confirmed that the alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration was genuine, saying those behind it actually intended to seize power.
Musa disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, September 3, 2026.
According to the minister, investigations established that the alleged plot was not fabricated and that the suspects had concrete intentions to take control of the government.
Suspects now facing trial.
Musa said the suspects were initially detained while security agencies investigated the allegations but have since been taken to court.
He explained that the matter is now before the judiciary and is no longer solely in the hands of the military.
The minister said the Department of State Services and the National Intelligence Agency are continuing to investigate aspects of the case, particularly to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged plot.
Musa: Plotters were motivated by money
The Defence Minister suggested that the alleged plotters were not driven by a clear political or ideological objective.
Instead, he described them as misguided individuals who were motivated largely by financial interests and memories of Nigeria’s past military regimes, when military officers who seized power later occupied political positions.
Musa said there was no concrete justification for attempting to overthrow a democratically elected government.
Defence Minister was allegedly a target.
Musa had previously disclosed that he was himself one of the alleged targets of the plot.
He said intelligence gathered during the investigation indicated that the plotters intended to arrest him and that he could have been killed if he resisted.
The alleged plans reportedly involved strategic locations, including the Presidential Villa and military formations.
Court proceedings underway
The alleged coup plot first came to public attention in 2025 after the arrest of military officers over what the authorities initially described as issues of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations.
The military later acknowledged that some officers were being prosecuted over an alleged attempt to overthrow the Tinubu administration.
Reports indicate that several suspects, including serving and retired military personnel and civilians, have faced different legal proceedings.
Government promises security ahead of 2027
Musa also assured Nigerians that the armed forces and other security agencies would provide adequate security ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said the military was monitoring the security situation across the country and would work to prevent political violence and attempts to undermine the democratic process.
The minister also warned politicians and members of the public against using religion, ethnicity or other sensitive issues to divide Nigerians.
Security agencies continue investigation
Although Musa confirmed that the alleged coup plot was real, he said investigations were still ongoing.
The DSS and NIA are expected to establish additional details about the alleged plan, including the individuals involved, their intended targets and the circumstances surrounding the proposed takeover.
With some suspects already before the courts, further revelations are expected to emerge through the ongoing legal proceedings.
