Defence Minister confirms he was target in foiled coup plot

The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has confirmed that he was among the individuals targeted for arrest or assassination in the foiled coup plot uncovered by Nigerian security agencies.

Speaking during a Channels TV programme, the retired Army general disclosed that intelligence gathered during investigations showed he had been specifically listed by the plotters.

“I was supposed to be arrested, and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot,” he stated.

The plot, dating back to October 2025, had marked key government officials including President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio for assassination.

Officials like Musa, who was then the Chief of Defence Staff, were slated for arrest.

Musa described the plan, which included provisions for lethal force against resisters, as a grave threat to national security and constitutional order.

He stressed that the alleged conspirators underestimated both the state and the public.

“Even without the armed forces, Nigerians will have stood against him,” he said, referring to the plot’s leader.

That leader, Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, was identified by Musa as being disgruntled over a failed promotion.

“He didn’t meet the marks to be promoted,” Musa noted, stating the military is strict about its promotion exercises.

The Defence Minister dismissed the plotters as “unserious individuals” and called on Nigerians to remain vigilant.

Military authorities initially arrested 16 officers in late September 2025 for “indiscipline and breach of service regulations.”

A statement in October linked their grievances to “career stagnation and failure in promotion examinations.”

Following the failed attempt, President Tinubu sacked the service chiefs, including Musa.

He was later recalled and appointed Minister of Defence in the wake of heightened political tensions, replacing Muhammed Badaru.

On 26 January, the military formally admitted the coup plot was true, stating that indicted officers will be arraigned in court.

A total of 40 suspects have been arrested and will face trial.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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