By Onoja Baba, Nigeria
The Nigerian military has formally inaugurated a general court-martial to try sixteen officers accused of involvement in an alleged coup plot, marking the official commencement of legal proceedings.
The accused personnel arrived at the Guards Brigade Scorpion Mess in Asokoro at approximately 8:53 a.m. on Friday, under heavy security.
The atmosphere remained tense as the suspects, a group consisting of both senior and junior officers, were escorted into the venue for the start of the tribunal.
Proceedings moved behind closed doors almost immediately, with journalists denied access to the courtroom. Despite the restricted entry for the media, several civilian lawyers were observed arriving at the venue prior to the inauguration, indicating that the defendants have secured legal representation for the duration of the trial.
This sitting represents the start of the military’s internal judicial process following an extensive investigation that lasted several months.
The origins of the case trace back to October 2025, when the serving military personnel were first taken into custody. At the time of their arrest, the military authorities stated that the officers were being held for various acts of indiscipline.
However, subsequent inquiries established that a number of the officers had cases to answer regarding a coordinated attempt to overthrow the constitutional government.
This discovery led the military hierarchy to transition the case from a disciplinary matter to a formal court-martial focused on national security and the protection of the
democratic order.
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