JUST IN: Military inaugurates court martial for suspected coup plotters

The Nigerian armed forceshas inaugurated a general court martial to try 36 personnel accused of involvement in an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The proceedings, convened by the Defence Headquarters, began on Friday at the Scorpion Mess in Asokoro, Abuja, under tight security, with the session held behind closed doors.

Journalists, including accredited defence correspondents, were denied access to the venue, while security operatives also prohibited the use of mobile phones to document proceedings.

The defendants were transported to the location in an Army Headquarters Garrison bus.

The military trial is running alongside separate proceedings at the federal high court in Abuja, where the federal government has filed criminal charges linked to the same alleged coup plot.

Earlier, Lateef Fagbemi, the attorney-general of the federation arraigned a separate group of suspects—including retired military officers, a police inspector and civilians—before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

AThe defendants pleaded not guilty to a 13-count charge bordering on treason, terrorism and money laundering.

The court subsequently ordered their remand in the custody of the Department of State Services, with an accelerated hearing fixed for April 27.

The parallel prosecutions have triggered legal concerns, with Femi Falana, prominent human rights lawyer urging the federal government to discontinue the military trial.

Falana argued that offences such as treason and terrorism fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of civilian courts, questioning the legality of subjecting some suspects to a military tribunal while others face trial at the Federal High Court.

“Courts-martial lack the jurisdiction to handle such grave constitutional offences,” he said, calling for all cases to be consolidated before a civilian court.

The military had earlier disclosed that the alleged coup plot was uncovered through internal intelligence operations, leading to multiple arrests.

Meanwhile, families of the accused, alongside activist Omoyele Sowore, have called for transparency in the process, insisting that the suspects should be tried in a civilian court to safeguard their fundamental rights.