Nigerian military begins court-martial of 36 personnel over alleged coup plot in Abuja, amid growing legal debate on jurisdiction.
The Nigerian military has began the trial of 36 personnel accused of plotting to overthrow the administration of Bola Tinubu.
The Defence Headquarters inaugurated the general court-martial on Friday, at the Scorpion Mess, Asokoro, Abuja, under heavy security. Authorities held the session behind closed doors.
Authorities Restrict Media Access
Security personnel denied journalists, including accredited defence correspondents, access to the venue despite prior invitations.
They also banned the use of mobile phones as officials transported the accused to the venue in an Army Headquarters Garrison bus around 8:53 a.m.
Parallel Legal Process
The Federal Government has also filed separate charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja, creating a parallel legal process.
On April 22, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, arraigned another group of suspects before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
The defendants, comprising retired military officers, a police inspector and civilians pleaded not guilty to a 13-count charge covering treason, terrorism and money laundering.
Prosecutors allege that the group conspired in 2025 to overthrow the government and failed to report the plot. The court ordered their remand in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) and fixed April 27 for accelerated hearing.
Falana Challenges Military Jurisdiction
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has urged the AGF to halt the court-martial and consolidate all cases before the Federal High Court.
He cited Section 174 of the Constitution, which empowers the AGF to discontinue proceedings, and argued that only the Federal High Court can try offences such as treason and terrorism.
“Courts-martial lack the jurisdiction to handle such grave constitutional offences,” Falana said.
He also questioned why authorities split the prosecution between military and civilian courts for the same alleged offences.
Stakeholders Demand Open Trial
Families of the accused and activist Omoyele Sowore have called for a transparent, civilian-led trial to protect the defendants’ rights.
The military said it uncovered the alleged plot through internal intelligence operations, leading to the arrests.
Debate Over Rule of Law Deepens
Legal analysts warn that running parallel trials could complicate judicial processes and raise constitutional questions about jurisdiction and due process.
The case continues to test the balance between military authority and civilian judicial oversight in handling serious national security offences.
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