Nigeria’s military has confirmed investigations into an alleged coup plot against President Tinubu, with new details emerging on the case involving Brigadier General Musa Sadiq
How a Foiled Coup Rocked Nigeria’s Military—and the Allegations Trailing Brig. Gen. Musa Sadiq
Fresh details have emerged regarding the alleged coup plot against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, following the military’s confirmation that investigations into the matter have been concluded and that indicted officers will face court-martial.
Among those implicated is Brigadier General Musa Sadiq, one of 16 military officers arrested and detained in October last year over what authorities now describe as an attempt to illegally overthrow the government.
Fourteen of the arrested officers are from the Nigerian Army, while the remaining two belong to the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force. Following the initial arrests, additional officers and civilians were reportedly taken into custody as investigations widened.
According to a report by Premium Times NG, sources familiar with the matter say the alleged plot was a significant factor behind the cancellation of Nigeria’s 1 October Independence Day parade, a decision that raised eyebrows at the time but was officially left unexplained.
Initially, military authorities described the arrests as relating to “indiscipline and breach of service regulations,” avoiding direct reference to a coup plot.
That position changed in late January when the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) confirmed that investigations had uncovered serious allegations against some of the officers.
In a statement issued on 26 January, the DHQ said it had found “a number of the officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government.”
According to the military, the conduct uncovered during the investigation was “inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
It added, “Accordingly, those with cases to answer will be formally arraigned before appropriate military judicial panels to face trial in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and other applicable service regulations.”
Allegations Against Musa Sadiq
While some intelligence briefs reportedly described Brig. Gen. Sadiq as a suspected leader of the plot, officials familiar with the investigation insist that the core allegation against him is not direct participation, but rather prior knowledge and failure to act.
Military sources who spoke to Premium Times NG on condition of anonymity described his alleged role as that of an “accessory” rather than an active conspirator.
According to the sources, investigators believe Sadiq was informed of the coup plot by officers directly involved in its planning but failed to report the information to the appropriate authorities.
“This, investigators argue, constitutes a serious breach of military conduct and forms the basis of the case against him,” one source said.
Profile of the Officer
Born on 3 January 1974, Brig. Gen. Sadiq is a serving senior officer of the Nigerian Army with service number N/10321.
He trained at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) between August 1992 and September 1997 as a member of Regular Course 44. An indigene of Nasarawa State, he belongs to the infantry corps.
Sadiq was promoted to colonel in 2015 and attained the rank of brigadier general in 2019. He has held several high-level command positions, including Commander, 3rd Brigade in Kano, and Garrison Commander, 81 Division, Lagos.
Previous Controversies
This is not the first time the officer has faced scrutiny. In October 2024, he was reportedly detained over separate allegations of gross misconduct, including the diversion of rice palliatives and the alleged sale of military equipment and operational vehicles to scrap dealers.
While those allegations are not directly linked to the current coup-related investigation, they have resurfaced as part of a broader review of his service record.
Next Steps
Military authorities have yet to issue a detailed public briefing on the status of individual cases. However, sources say due process is being followed, and affected officers will be tried in accordance with military law.
Brig. Gen. Sadiq has not publicly responded to the allegations as of the time of filing this report. Read More
