- Nigeria’s coup investigation reveals over 30 suspects set to face trial.
- Military officers will face court-martial, while civilians go to civil court.
- A preliminary report on the coup investigation will be submitted to the president.
- Seven suspects linked to the coup investigation are still at large.
Fresh details have emerged from Nigeria’s coup investigation, months after several military officers were arrested on suspicion of planning a forceful takeover of government. According to Premium Times sources, more than 30 suspects will face trial, while seven others remain unaccounted for.
The suspects are made up of both serving military officers and civilians. Security insiders say the accused allegedly held secret meetings and drafted a list of top government officials marked for assassination as part of the planned coup. Those officials reportedly targeted include President Bola Tinubu and other key national leaders.
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Investigators have now completed a preliminary report, which will be presented to President Tinubu in the coming days. Individuals cleared of wrongdoing will be released, while others will face prosecution.
One source familiar with the case confirmed the difficulty in tracking some of the suspects:
“Seven of them are still missing. Their homes are empty, their phones are off, and no one has been able to reach them. The manhunt is ongoing.”
There is still uncertainty surrounding whether former Bayelsa governor and ex-petroleum minister, Timipre Sylva, is among the seven missing individuals. Soldiers recently raided his Abuja residence, causing extensive damage, although he has denied any connection to the coup plot.
Sylva’s spokesperson, Julius Bokoru, said the former minister had no knowledge of any investigation or raid authorisation and was not in the country when the incident occurred.
Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye, Chief of Defence Intelligence and chairman of the investigative panel, is expected to meet with the Chief of Defence Staff and service chiefs to determine the next steps.
Military officers will first be tried in court martial proceedings, while civilians implicated in the coup investigation will be arraigned in civil courts.
Earlier, Premium Times published the names of 16 senior officers initially arrested, 14 from the Army, one from the Navy, and one from the Air Force. The identities of the newly detained suspects remain undisclosed.
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Sources say the Defence Headquarters, which previously issued a vague statement about the situation, is now preparing a public update to confirm the findings.
The alleged coup plot triggered a surprising shake-up in Nigeria’s military leadership weeks later, with President Tinubu replacing several service chiefs. Although the presidency did not link the changes to the coup investigation, the timing raised speculation.
The Defence Headquarters has not yet commented on the latest developments.
