The Nigerian military has formally inaugurated a General Court-Martial to try 36 personnel accused of plotting to overthrow the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu . The proceedings began behind closed doors at the Guards Brigade Scorpion Mess in Asokoro, Abuja, on Friday, April 24, 2026 .
The accused officers were brought to the venue under tight security at approximately 8:53 a.m. in a “Marco Polo” luxurious bus . Several civil lawyers were observed arriving ahead of the inauguration, indicating the presence of legal representation for the defendants . Journalists were, however, denied access as the court-martial session was held in closed doors .
The trial marks the commencement of the military’s internal judicial process following months of investigation. The case dates back to October 2025, when about 16 serving military personnel were arrested over alleged acts of indiscipline. Subsequent investigations by military authorities established that some of the officers had cases to answer regarding an attempt to unconstitutionally remove the elected government .
In a parallel development, the Federal Government had earlier arraigned six individuals before the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges bordering on treason and terrorism in connection with the same alleged coup plot . The defendants include a retired major general, a retired navy captain, a serving police inspector, a Presidential Villa electrician, a civilian, and an Islamic cleric — all of whom pleaded not guilty . A seventh suspect, former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-minister Timipre Sylva, remains at large .
The dual-track prosecution has sparked legal debate. Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has called on the Attorney-General to discontinue the military trial, arguing that under Section 251 of the Constitution, only the Federal High Court has jurisdiction to try offences such as treason and terrorism .
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