The General Court Martial (GCM) convened to try 36 serving military officers over an alleged plot to overthrow the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will resume on Friday, May 8, 2026, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed .
The court martial was inaugurated on April 24, 2026, at the Guards Brigade Scorpion Mess in Asokoro, Abuja, under tight security and behind closed doors . The proceedings are part of the military’s internal judicial process following investigations into an alleged plot uncovered in late 2025.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that On May 8, the 36 accused officers are expected to be formally arraigned and will enter their pleas — either “guilty” or “not guilty” — marking the substantive commencement of the trial . The proceedings will continue to be held behind closed doors, with no media access, according to DHQ spokesman Major General Samaila Uba .
In a separate but related development, six individuals — including a retired Major General, a retired Naval Captain, a serving police inspector, and civilians — are currently standing trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged roles in the same coup plot . They have pleaded not guilty to charges including treason, terrorism financing, and failure to disclose security intelligence. A former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has also been named in the charge sheet but remains at large .
The case has drawn significant public attention, as the alleged plot, if successful, would have threatened over two decades of uninterrupted civilian rule in Nigeria. The country has maintained a democratic system since transitioning from military rule in 1999 .
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