Nigerian Military Establishes Court-Martial to Try 36 Officers Over Suspected Coup Involvement

The Nigerian military inaugurated a general court-martial to try at least 36 serving officers accused in an alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu. The general court-martial assembled at the Scorpion Officers' Mess in Asokoro, Abuja, following a convening order signed by AM Alechenu, commander of the Defence Headquarters Garrison, on April 17.

AllAfrica reported that military police, naval police, air police, and guards brigade personnel will secure the venue. No one is allowed to bring weapons into the courtroom except court guards, who may carry arms only around the court premises during proceedings.

The panel was constituted pursuant to the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. It comprises senior officers from the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force, chaired by a senior-ranking officer with other members serving as directing staff and legal officers to oversee prosecution and procedure.

An air vice marshal heads the panel as president, supported by senior officers at the ranks of major general, rear admiral, and air vice marshal.

The panel is headed by Air Vice Marshal H.I. Alhaji as President, alongside members including Major Generals UT Opuene, IB Abubakar, NUC Ogili, SA Emmanuel and FU Mijinyawa; Rear Admirals D.M. Ndanusa and MK Igwe; as well as Air Vice Marshals M.A. Omar is listed as the waiting member.

Legal guidance is provided by Judge Advocate A. Mohammed, a lieutenant colonel. The convening order outlines key support appointments, including a liaison officer, prosecuting officers from the Army, Air Force, and Navy, a technical team, supervising officers, and a court secretariat for administrative duties.

Proceedings will be conducted under the authority of the Armed Forces Act. Upon conclusion, the president of the general court-martial must forward the official record within a defined timeframe. The convening order states that charges are to be served on the accused persons individually.

Both prosecution and defense may present witnesses in accordance with the Evidence Act 2023. Accused persons have the right to legal representation of their choosing and must inform the convening authority of their counsel no later than 24 hours before the trial starts. Where an accused fails to secure a defense counsel, the convening authority will appoint one at no cost.

The order affirms, 'Accused persons are entitled to defence counsel of their choice.' These measures ensure procedural fairness in the military trial. The 36 officers to be arraigned include serving military personnel from a wider group detained over the alleged coup plot.

Premium Times reported that 16 military officers were initially arrested for direct participation in the alleged coup. A special investigative panel, led by Chief of Defence Intelligence Emmanuel Undiandeye, led to additional arrests. The convening order lists the 36 officers, including Brigadier General MA Sadiq, N/10321; Colonel MA Ma'aji, N/10668; Lieutenant Colonel IM Hussain, N/12225; Lieutenant Colonel M Almakura, N/12983; Lieutenant Colonel P Dangnap, N/13025; Lieutenant Colonel S Bappah, N/13036; Lieutenant Colonel AA Hayatu, N/13038; and Lieutenant Colonel SM Gana, N/13857.

The list continues with Wing Commander IU Yusuf, NAF/3117; Major MM Jiddah, N/13003; Major H Yusuf, N/13877; Major AD Dauda, N/14394; Major JM Ganaks, N/14363; Major D Yusuf, N/14753; Major J Iliyasu, N/14837; Major MA Usman, N/15404; Major A Mohammed, N/15769; and Major II Idris, N/16185.

Further officers include Lieutenant Commander DB Abdullahi, NN/3289; Squadron Leader SB Adamu, NAF/3481; Squadron Leader NG Zuzu, NAF/3617; Captain G Binuga, N/16722; Captain I Bello, N/16266; and Captain AA Yusuf, N/16724. These officers span senior and junior ranks from the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Subsequent investigations established cases bordering on an attempt to overthrow the constitutional government. Authorities later acknowledged that a plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu's government was true.

The alleged coup plot involved civilians, former, and serving military personnel. Serving military personnel face court-martial, while civilians and retired officers are tried in civilian courts in parallel proceedings. The Nigerian government filed 13 charges against civilians and two ex-military personnel at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday.

The 13 charges include treason, terrorism, failure to disclose information, and money laundering. They were signed by Rotimi Oyedepo, director of public prosecutions of the federation, acting on behalf of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Defendants include Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, a retired major-general; Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, a retired navy captain; Ahmed Ibrahim, a police inspector; Zekeri Umoru, an electrician at the Presidential Villa; Bukar Kashim Goni; and Abdulkadir Sani, a Zaria-based Islamic cleric.

The federal government arraigned several civilian suspects and retired military personnel before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged coup plot. The defendants, including a retired major general and a serving police officer, were charged with offences bordering on treason and terrorism.