The Nigerian military on Friday set the stage for the trial of officers accused of plotting a coup, formally inaugurating a General Court-Martial to handle the high-stakes case.
We gathered that the accused personnel were ushered into the Guards Brigade Scorpion Mess in Asokoro at about 8:53 a.m. under heavy security presence, as proceedings quietly got underway.
Access to the courtroom was strictly restricted, with journalists barred from witnessing the session, which was conducted behind closed doors.
Notably, a number of civilian lawyers were seen arriving at the venue ahead of the inauguration, indicating that the accused officers had secured legal representation.
The commencement of the trial marks a decisive step in the military’s disciplinary process following months of investigations into the alleged conspiracy.
The saga traces back to October 2025, when around 16 serving officers, both senior and junior ranks, were detained over alleged misconduct.
However, further probes by military authorities reportedly uncovered grounds suggesting an attempt to overthrow the constitutional government, prompting the decision to escalate the matter to a court-martial.
More than 30 accused officers were conveyed to the venue in a “Marcopolo” luxurious bus.
In a parallel development, the Federal Government had earlier docked several civilian suspects alongside retired military officers before a Federal High Court in Abuja over the same alleged coup plot.
The defendants, Including a retired Major General and a serving police officer, were charged with offences bordering on treason and terrorism.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court subsequently ordered their remand in custody pending the hearing of their bail applications.
The simultaneous trials reflect a two-pronged legal strategy—serving officers are being tried within the military system, while civilians and retired personnel face prosecution in civilian courts.
As of the time of filing this report, further details of the court-martial proceedings remained under wraps.
