By Our Reporter
Fresh revelations have shed light on the Federal Government’s cautious handling of the recent foiled plot involving some military personnel, following advice from a senior legal adviser within President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet.
According to PRNigeria, the legal luminary—renowned for his expertise in constitutional and security affairs—strongly cautioned against publicly branding the incident as a “coup” until investigations were complete.
The advice reportedly came shortly after Defence Headquarters (DHQ) operatives uncovered what was believed to be a coordinated attempt by certain soldiers and their civilian allies to destabilise the government.
“The counsel from the Presidency was clear,” a top security source told PRNigeria. “He warned that using the term ‘coup’ prematurely could trigger panic, alert accomplices, and complicate legal proceedings.”
The adviser reportedly argued that investigators should first secure incontrovertible evidence before any official announcement, noting that early sensationalism could compromise ongoing intelligence operations and prosecutions.
Sources added that the restrained communication was also aimed at preventing suspected collaborators from fleeing while intelligence operatives were still tracking financial transactions and communication networks tied to the detained officers.
Another factor, insiders said, was the need to assess the psychological stability of the suspects, given some had prior disciplinary records.
“The military handled the situation with discretion to preserve institutional integrity,” a defence official explained. “It was a strategic decision to avoid public tension and maintain the confidence of international partners.”
Consequently, the DHQ initially described the arrests as cases of “indiscipline” and “professional misconduct,” rather than directly linking them to any coup attempt. While this cautious approach reduced panic, it also caused temporary confusion until media reports later revealed more details.
Both the Federal Government and the DHQ have since reiterated their unwavering commitment to democratic governance but have withheld further comment pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.