The Nigerian military on Friday inaugurated a General Court-Martial to try officers accused of involvement in an alleged coup plot, formally commencing proceedings after months of investigation.
The accused officers were brought under heavy security to the Guards Brigade Scorpion Mess, Asokoro, Abuja, at about 8:53 a.m.
Journalists were denied access to the courtroom as proceedings began behind closed doors, while several civil lawyers were seen arriving at the venue, indicating legal representation for the defendants.
The sitting marks the start of the military’s internal judicial process following investigations into the alleged plot.
The case dates back to October 2025, when about 16 serving military personnel, including both senior and junior officers, were arrested over alleged acts of indiscipline.
Subsequent investigations by military authorities reportedly found that some of the officers had cases to answer relating to an alleged attempt to overthrow the constitutional government, prompting their trial by court-martial.
More than 30 accused officers were transported to the venue in a Marcopolo luxury bus.
In a related development, the Federal Government had earlier arraigned several civilian suspects and retired military personnel before the 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.
The court subsequently ordered their remand in custody pending the hearing of their bail applications.
The parallel proceedings highlight a dual-track approach, with serving military personnel facing court-martial, while civilians and retired officers are being prosecuted in civilian courts.
Further details of the court-martial proceedings were not available at the time of filing this report.
