From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Nigerian military, on Friday, inaugurated a General Court-Martial to try officers accused of involvement in an alleged coup plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu.
The proceedings, which commenced at the Guards Brigade Scorpion Mess in Asokoro, Abuja, mark the beginning of an internal judicial process following months of investigation into allegations that date back to October 2025.
Officials conveyed the accused officers to the venue at about 8:53 a.m. under tight security, underscoring the gravity of the case.
Journalists were denied access into the courtroom as proceedings began behind closed doors, in line with established military judicial procedures.
However, several civil lawyers were observed arriving at the venue ahead of the inauguration, indicating that the accused officers have secured legal representation as required under due process.
The case originated from the arrest of about 16 serving military personnel (both senior and junior officers) over alleged acts initially described as indiscipline. Subsequent investigations by military authorities reportedly revealed that some of the officers had cases to answer bordering on an alleged attempt to overthrow the constitutional government.
More than 30 accused officers were said to have been transported to the venue in a Marcopolo luxury bus, reflecting the expanded scope of the investigation and the number of personnel now facing trial under military law.
The Federal Government had earlier arraigned several civilian suspects and retired military personnel before a Federal High Court in Abuja over 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 the defendants in the civilian trial pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court subsequently ordered their remand in custody pending the hearing of their bail applications.
The parallel proceedings highlight a dual-track judicial approach, with serving military personnel subjected to court-martial, while civilians and retired officers are being tried within the civilian judicial system.
As of the time of filing this report, further details of the court-martial proceedings were not available, as the trial continues behind closed doors.
