Defence Minister Musa: DSS, NIA Still Investigating Alleged Coup Plot Against Tinubu

Nigeria’s alleged coup plot has entered a new phase as the Department of State Services (DSS) and National Intelligence Agency (NIA) continue investigations into the circumstances surrounding the reported attempt to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government.

Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), disclosed this during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, September 3, 2026, saying security agencies were deliberately taking their time to establish the facts before making further disclosures.

Musa also confirmed that suspects linked to the alleged plot have already been taken to court, meaning the matter is now before the relevant judicial authorities.

According to the minister, the investigation remains active despite the commencement of legal proceedings.

“The DSS is still investigating together with the NIA, and they don’t want to just say things they are not sure of.”

Musa added that the alleged attempt was genuine and that those involved intended to seize power, although he did not disclose additional details about their alleged plans or motives during the interview.

Musa insists alleged coup was not a false alarm

The latest comments are significant because the alleged coup initially generated uncertainty after military authorities publicly described the arrests of officers in 2025 primarily in terms of indiscipline and breaches of military regulations.

Musa has now maintained that the alleged conspiracy was real.

“It was real, and they actually wanted to do it for whatever reason,” he said during the television interview.

The minister described the suspects as misguided individuals and suggested that the reasons behind their actions would become clearer as the investigation and court proceedings progress.

He did not, however, provide details that would independently establish the suspects’ alleged operational plans, nor did he identify the individuals involved during the interview.

That distinction is important because the matter is still before the courts and allegations against the accused remain subject to judicial determination.

How the alleged coup controversy began

The controversy dates back to late September and October 2025, when military authorities arrested a group of officers.

At the time, the Defence Headquarters said the officers were being investigated for alleged acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations. Preliminary explanations linked their grievances to issues including career stagnation and failure in promotion examinations.

As further information emerged, however, authorities acknowledged that the investigation had uncovered allegations connected to an attempt to overthrow the government.

The military subsequently announced that 16 officers had been indicted and would face trial in connection with the alleged plot.

The development transformed what had initially appeared to be an internal military disciplinary matter into a major national security case.

Why Christopher Musa’s role is particularly significant

Musa’s latest statement carries additional weight because he was the Chief of Defence Staff when the alleged plot was uncovered.

Earlier in 2026, he disclosed that he himself had allegedly been identified as a target by the plotters.

During an interview with Channels Television in February, Musa said he was expected to be arrested and that he could have been shot if he resisted.

Musa subsequently described the alleged operation as something that was stopped at the planning stage through intelligence and monitoring efforts involving security agencies.

He also said an officer who allegedly failed to meet promotion requirements was connected to the development, although he did not publicly identify the officer.

The alleged plot and Nigeria’s political stability

The case has attracted considerable attention because Nigeria has a long history of military intervention in politics.

The country experienced a succession of military coups beginning in 1966, followed by decades of military rule and political instability. Nigeria eventually returned to democratic government in 1999 and has remained under civilian rule since then.

The alleged 2025 plot therefore became particularly sensitive at a time when several West African countries had experienced military takeovers or attempted coups.

For the Tinubu administration, any credible attempt by serving military personnel to seize political power would represent a direct challenge to Nigeria’s constitutional order and democratic institutions.

What investigators are doing now

Musa’s latest comments indicate that the security investigation has not been completely closed even though suspects have entered the judicial process.

The DSS and NIA are still working to establish additional facts, according to the minister. Their caution, he suggested, is intended to prevent security agencies from releasing information that has not been sufficiently verified.

Meanwhile, the court process is expected to become the main avenue through which evidence against the accused can be tested.

Previous reporting has indicated that investigators alleged a wider conspiracy involving military personnel and other individuals, including claims that senior political figures were potential targets. Those details remain allegations and should not be treated as established facts unless confirmed through the ongoing judicial process.

What happens next?

The immediate focus will be on the ongoing investigation and court proceedings.

The security agencies are expected to determine the full scope of the alleged conspiracy, identify all individuals who may have been involved and establish the motive behind the alleged attempt.

For Nigerians, the key issue is not simply whether arrests have been made but whether the investigation and subsequent trials will provide a clear, independently tested account of what happened.

Musa’s latest comments also suggest that the government is deliberately leaving further details to the investigative and judicial processes rather than providing a complete public narrative while the case remains active.

For now, the Defence Minister’s position is unequivocal: the alleged coup plot was real, the suspects have been taken to court, and investigations by the DSS and NIA are continuing.

Timeline: What readers should know

• September–October 2025: Military officers were arrested amid investigations initially publicly described as involving indiscipline and breaches of service regulations.
• October 2025: Defence authorities publicly discussed the disciplinary investigation while questions about an alleged coup plot continued to circulate.
• January 2026: Military authorities acknowledged that an alleged coup attempt had been uncovered and announced that indicted officers would face trial.
• February 2026: Musa said he was allegedly among those targeted for arrest and possible shooting if he resisted.
• September 3, 2026: Musa said the DSS and NIA were still investigating and insisted that the alleged coup plot was genuine.
• Current position: Suspects have been taken to court while investigations continue.