Nigeria Sets up Court Martial for Alleged Coup Plotters
Last update: April 24, 2026
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Thirty six officers accused of plotting a coup in 2025...
The Nigeria armed forces on Friday swore in justices for a military court that will try 36 officers accused of involvement in a botched coup plot, the Defence Headquarters said.
The government had initially denied the existence of the alleged attempt late last year before announcing in January that it had foiled a plan to overthrow the government.
If successful, the plot would have ended more than two decades of democratic rule in Africa’s most populous nation.
The Defence Headquarters said it had “inaugurated a General Court Martial to try 36 serving military personnel over alleged mutiny, aimed at overthrowing the government of the day,” according to a statement by spokesman Major General Samaila Uba.
It did not specify when the trials would begin but said proceedings would be conducted with “the highest standards of fairness”.
CBI News understands that accused officers were brought to a military facility in the capital, Abuja, on Friday morning for the inauguration, though it remains unclear when prosecutions will formally commence.
Separately, six civilians, including a retired major general, were charged earlier this week at the Abuja Federal High Court over the alleged plot. They pleaded not guilty.
Those charged include retired major general Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.
According to court documents, they are accused of conspiring “to levy war against the State to overawe the President of the Federal Republic”.
They were also accused of failing to alert authorities despite knowing that Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others intended to commit treason. Ma’aji has been described in previous Nigerian media reports as the alleged mastermind of the plot.
The names of the officers facing court martial were not disclosed.
Last year, authorities announced the arrest of 16 officers over what were described as “issues of indiscipline”. Despite official denials at the time, the arrests were allegedly linked to a suspected coup attempt.
