Former Nigerian military Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, has recounted how officers he trusted allegedly participated in the July 1975 coup that removed him from power while he attended an Organisation of African Unity summit in Uganda.

Gowon, who led Nigeria from 1966 to 1975, disclosed in his memoir, My Life of Duty and Allegiance, that he received intelligence reports warning of a planned coup before travelling to Kampala for the summit.

According to him, his Chief Security Officer and head of the Special Branch, M.D. Yusuf, informed him that some military officers were plotting against his administration. The report reportedly identified Joseph Garba, then Commander of the Federal Guards Unit, and Anthony Ochefu, then Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Military Police, as central figures in the alleged conspiracy.

Gowon said he was disturbed by the allegations because both officers were among those he trusted most within his government and security circle.

He stated that he summoned both men after receiving the warning. While Mr Garba responded to the invitation and denied involvement in any coup plan, Mr Ochefu reportedly failed to honour repeated requests to appear before him.

The former leader said Mr Ochefu’s refusal increased his suspicion that the coup threat could be genuine, although he decided to revisit the matter after returning from Uganda.

He explained that despite the warnings, he proceeded with the trip because Nigeria had already committed to participating in the summit.

He travelled to Uganda on 27 July 1975 aboard a Nigeria Airways Boeing 737 but remained uneasy during the trip. He later directed his Aide-de-Camp, Lt. Col. Williams Walbe, to return to Lagos to monitor the political situation and report developments.

According to him, the officer’s return was delayed after the aircraft co-pilot reportedly became ill.

Mr Gowon said he eventually learnt of the coup on 29 July 1975 during the summit after Uganda’s then leader, Idi Amin, showed him a Reuters report announcing that his government had been overthrown.

The coup brought Murtala Muhammed to power as head of state, while Olusegun Obasanjo became Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters.

Mr Gowon also recalled that early reports identified the officer who announced the coup as “Colonel Darwa,” a name he initially did not recognise but later suspected might have referred to Mr Garba.

Despite the reports, he said he initially found it difficult to believe that Mr Garba could have betrayed him, adding that he thought the officer may have been pressured into joining the plot.