Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigerian military, on Friday 24 April 2026, formally inaugurated a general court-martial at the Guards Brigade Scorpion Mess in Asokoro, Abuja, to try 36 serving military personnel accused of plotting to overthrow the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The proceedings, which began at about 8:53 a.m., were held behind closed doors under massive security, as journalists were denied access to the courtroom and security operatives prohibited the use of mobile phones to document the arrival of the defendants. The accused, a mix of senior and junior officers drawn from the Army, Navy and Air Force, were transported to the venue in an Army Headquarters Garrison bus, accompanied by a DIA detention operations vehicle. The court-martial was constituted by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) pursuant to the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and marks the formal commencement of a military internal trial process following months of investigation.
The case originated in October 2025, when about 16 serving military personnel were initially arrested over what authorities then described as “acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations.” The military high command initially denied rumours of a coup plot, but in January 2026 the DHQ officially confirmed that investigations had uncovered an allegation of an attempt to overthrow the constitutional government. In a statement, the DHQ said: “The findings have identified a number of the officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government, which is inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the AFN. Accordingly, those with cases to answer will be formally arraigned before an appropriate military judicial panel to face trial in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and other applicable service regulations.” The alleged plot, reportedly involving civilians, former and serving military personnel and even some political figures, is said to have included plans to storm the Presidential Villa, known as Aso Rock, and to capture or kill the president, the vice president, the senate president and the speaker of the House of Representatives. Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji, an infantry officer, has been identified by military investigators as the major suspected leader of the botched coup and alleged financier of the operation.
The military has declined to release the formal charges against the 36 officers, but the convening order for the court-martial specified that charges would be served on each accused individually. The order affirms the rights of the accused to legal representation and a fair trial, stating: “Accused persons are entitled to defence counsel of their choice… Where an accused fails to secure a Defence Counsel, the Convening Authority will appoint one for him at no cost.” Both the prosecution and the defence will be allowed to call witnesses in line with the Evidence Act, 2023. The panel is headed by Air Vice Marshal H.I. Alhaji, supported by members including Major Generals U.T. Opuene, I.B. Abubakar, N.U.C. Ogili, S.A. Emmanuel and F.U. Mijinyawa; Rear Admirals D.M. Ndanusa and M.K. Igwe; and Air Vice Marshals M.A. Isah and A.O. Kotun. Legal guidance is to be provided by the Judge Advocate, Lieutenant Colonel A. Mohammed.
The list of 36 accused officers circulated by multiple media outlets includes a wide range of ranks. The most senior are Brigadier General M.A. Sadiq (N/10321); Colonel M.A. Ma’aji (N/10668), the alleged chief planner; Lieutenant Colonel I.M. Hussain (N/12225); Lieutenant Colonel M. Almakura (N/12983); Lieutenant Colonel P. Dangnap (N/13025); Lieutenant Colonel S. Bappah (N/13036); Lieutenant Colonel A.A. Hayatu (N/13038); and Lieutenant Colonel S.M. Gana (N/13857). Also named are Wing Commander I.U. Yusuf (NAF/3117); Majors M.M. Jiddah (N/13003), H. Yusuf (N/13877), A.D. Dauda (N/14394), J.M. Ganaks (N/14363), D. Yusuf (N/14753), J. Iliyasu (N/14837), M.A. Usman (N/15404), A. Mohammed (N/15769) and I.I. Idris (N/16185); Lieutenant Commander D.B. Abdullahi (NN/3289); Squadron Leaders S.B. Adamu (NAF/3481) and N.G. Zuzu (NAF/3617); Captains G. Binuga (N/16722), I. Bello (N/16266), A.A. Yusuf (N/16724), I.U. Zubair (N/17646) and M.L. Muhammad (N/18445); and Lieutenant S.S. Felix (N/18105). The remaining accused are non-commissioned officers: Warrant Officer Nasiru Ibrahim (95NA/39/2281); Staff Sergeant Abdul Abdullahi (99NA/48/126); Sergeants Alhassan Zakari (97NA/44/4394), Sanda Usman (03NA/54/5529) and Abubakar Ibrahim (06NA/58/3829); Corporals Momoh Audu (96NA/41/1592) and Aliyu Ibrahim (10NA/65/7797); and Lance Corporals Sambo Danladi (16NA/75/634) and Nasiru Yushau (16NA/75/5221). The accused were brought before the court-martial in a “Marcopolo” luxury bus, indicating that the investigation has expanded significantly beyond the initial 16 persons arrested in October 2025.
The military trial is taking place alongside parallel criminal proceedings instituted by the Federal Government at the Federal High Court in Abuja. On 22 April 2026, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), arraigned six suspects in connection with the same alleged coup plot before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik. The defendants include Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (retired), Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor (retired), Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim (serving police officer), Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani (a Zaria-based Islamic cleric). Also named in the charge but still at large is a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva. The six pleaded not guilty to a 13-count charge bordering on treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering, and the court ordered their remand in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) pending a hearing of their bail applications, with an accelerated trial scheduled for 27 April 2026.
The dual-track prosecution has triggered a significant legal debate. Prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has called on the Attorney-General to invoke Section 174 of the Constitution to discontinue the military proceedings and consolidate all cases before the Federal High Court. Falana argued that offences such as treason and terrorism fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court under Section 251 of the Constitution. He questioned the legal coherence of prosecuting some suspects in a civilian court while subjecting others to a military tribunal for the same alleged offences. “Courts-martial lack the jurisdiction to handle such grave constitutional offences,” he said, adding that even during past military regimes, coup-related cases were typically adjudicated by special tribunals rather than conventional courts-martial. Families of the accused officers have also called for a transparent, civilian-led trial, and activist Omoyele Sowore has joined the demand for openness.
Security around the Scorpion Mess on Friday was exceptionally tight. The convening order for the court-martial had specified that “no one is allowed to carry a weapon into the courtroom” and that “all unauthorised phones, devices and gadgets are not allowed within and around the court premises.” Only designated court guards are permitted to bear arms within the vicinity. The order further requires that thorough search operations be conducted on all participants before entry into the venue, and that all accused personnel will remain in custody under escort for the duration of the trial. Journalists, including accredited defence correspondents who had received prior invitations, were denied access and repeatedly asked to leave the premises. Some reporters were initially waved into the venue but were subsequently ordered out. The military has not indicated whether any part of the proceedings will be opened to the public or the media, but observers have described the trial as secret. The DHQ has stated that a statement will be issued after the inauguration and that the proceedings will be conducted under the authority of the Armed Forces Act, with strict timelines for documentation and the aim of ensuring accountability while upholding fairness and due process.
The alleged coup plot is the most serious treason prosecution since President Tinubu took office in 2023. The government initially denied the existence of a plot, dismissing early reports as “false, misleading and malicious,” but later confirmed that a comprehensive investigation had uncovered evidence. The military has since reaffirmed the loyalty of the armed forces to the constitution and democracy. As the court-martial proceeds behind closed doors, the nation watches to see whether the internal military process will deliver justice and whether the dual-track approach will withstand legal scrutiny. Families of the accused officers, who have in recent months staged peaceful protests at the National Assembly demanding access to their detained relatives or a transparent judicial process, remain anxious. For now, the 36 accused officers face their fate inside a closed courtroom, their trial shrouded in the same secrecy that has surrounded the case from the beginning.
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