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By Victor Osula, Abuja
The Nigerian Army on Friday inaugurated a General Court Martial to try officers accused of involvement in an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu.
The proceedings, initiated at the Guards Brigade Scorpion Mess in Asokoro, Abuja, mark the start of an internal judicial process following months of investigation into allegations dating back to October 2025.
Officials transported the accused officers to the spot around 8.53am under tight security, underscoring the gravity of the case.
Journalists were denied access to the courtroom as proceedings began behind closed doors, in line with established military judicial procedures.
However, several civilian attorneys were observed arriving on site prior to the inauguration, indicating that the accused officers had obtained legal representation as due process required.
The case arose from the arrest of approximately 16 serving military personnel (both senior and junior officers) for alleged acts initially described as indiscipline. Subsequent investigations by military authorities would reveal that some officers had cases to answer that bordered on an alleged attempt to overthrow the constitutional government.
More than 30 accused officers were said to have been transported to the scene in a luxury Marcopolo bus, reflecting the expanded scope of the investigation and the number of personnel now facing trial under military law.
The federal government had earlier arraigned several suspected civilians and retired military personnel before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the same alleged coup plot. Among those accused are a retired major general and a serving police officer, who face charges bordering on treason and terrorism.
All defendants in the civil trial have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court subsequently ordered their remand in custody pending hearing on their bail applications.
The parallel proceedings highlight a two-track judicial approach, with serving military personnel subjected to court-martial, while civilians and retired officers are tried under the civilian justice system.
No further details about the court-martial proceedings were available at the time of filing this report, as the trial continues behind closed doors.
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