The Nigerian military has formally commenced the trial of dozens of officers accused of involvement in an alleged coup plot, inaugurating a General Court-Martial in Abuja under heavy security and strict secrecy.
The proceedings, which began yesterday, are being held at the Guards Brigade Scorpion Mess in Asokoro, with journalists barred from accessing the courtroom.
The closed-door arrangement underscores the sensitive nature of the case, which centres on allegations of an attempt to overthrow the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
At least 30 serving military personnel—comprising both senior and junior officers—are facing trial, although earlier reports indicated that about 16 officers were initially arrested when the case first emerged in October 2025. The accused were conveyed to the venue in military vehicles, including an Army Headquarters Garrison bus and a Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) detention operations vehicle, arriving at approximately 8:53 a.m. under tight security.
Despite the media blackout, several legal practitioners were seen arriving at the venue ahead of the inauguration, suggesting that the defendants are being represented as the military justice process gets underway.
The court-martial marks the culmination of months of investigation by military authorities into what was initially described as acts of indiscipline. However, subsequent findings reportedly uncovered more serious allegations bordering on a coordinated attempt to subvert constitutional order, prompting the escalation of the case to a full military trial.
Meanwhile, in a related development, six civilian suspects and non-serving military personnel linked to the alleged plot were earlier arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja. The court subsequently ordered their remand in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), pending further proceedings.
