Military Begins Court-Martial of Officers Over Alleged Coup Plot
The Nigerian military on Friday formally inaugurated a General Court-Martial to prosecute officers implicated in an alleged coup plot, signaling the commencement of judicial proceedings within the armed forces.
TimesNG reports that the accused personnel were transported under heavy security to the Guards Brigade Scorpion Mess in Asokoro, Abuja, arriving at approximately 8:53 a.m.
Access to the courtroom was restricted, with journalists barred from observing the proceedings as the trial began behind closed doors. However, the presence of several civilian legal practitioners at the venue suggested that the accused officers had secured legal representation.
The court-martial marks a significant step in the military’s internal disciplinary process, following months of investigation into the alleged plot.
The matter dates back to October 2025, when about 16 serving military personnel—comprising both senior and junior officers—were arrested over allegations initially linked to acts of indiscipline. Subsequent investigations expanded the scope of the case, with authorities determining that some of the officers had questions to answer regarding an alleged attempt to overthrow the constitutional government. This development prompted the decision to subject them to trial by court-martial.
TimesNG further reports that more than 30 accused officers were conveyed to the venue in a luxury “Marcopolo” bus.
In a parallel development, the Federal Government had earlier arraigned several civilian suspects and retired military officers before a Federal High Court in Abuja in connection with the same alleged coup plot. Among those charged are a retired major general and a serving police officer, facing counts bordering on treason and terrorism.
All defendants in the civilian proceedings have pleaded not guilty. The court subsequently ordered their remand in custody pending the determination of their bail applications.
The ongoing cases reflect a dual-track judicial approach, with serving military personnel being tried under military law, while civilians and retired officers face prosecution in civilian courts.
As of the time of filing this report, detailed information regarding the court-martial proceedings remained unavailable.
By TimesNG