Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters has inaugurated a General Court Martial to try 36 serving military personnel over an alleged mutiny aimed at overthrowing the government \u2014 the most significant step yet in the prosecution of those accused of plotting against the state.
\n\n
Major General Samaila Uba, defence spokesman, said the court was formally sworn in and that proceedings would be conducted behind closed doors. “Proceedings of the court will be conducted with the highest standards of fairness,” he stated, without providing a timeline for the trials.
\n\n
State media reported that more than 30 accused officers were transported to a military facility in the capital, Abuja, on Friday morning. The identities of those facing trial have not yet been disclosed.
\n\n
From Denial to Confirmation
\n\n
The case has followed a remarkable arc. Authorities initially denied any knowledge of a coup attempt late last year, but in January the military announced it had thwarted a plot and would prosecute those involved. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu subsequently reshuffled the country’s top military leadership \u2014 a move widely seen as an effort to stabilise the armed forces amid the fallout.
\n\n
In a related case currently before the Federal High Court, six civilians \u2014 including retired major general Mohammed Ibrahim Gana \u2014 pleaded not guilty earlier this week to charges linked to the alleged conspiracy. Prosecutors allege the group conspired to wage war against the state and intimidate the president. Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji has been identified in local media as the alleged mastermind.
\n\n
A Coup-Prone Nation
\n\n
Nigeria has spent much of its post-independence history under military rule since gaining independence from Britain in 1960. The restoration of civilian governance in 1999 has held, but the latest allegations underscore persistent tensions within the armed forces. Analysts say the trial’s outcome will be closely watched as a test of Nigeria’s commitment to rule of law and democratic stability.
\n\n
With tensions still raw and proceedings behind closed doors, the case risks deepening divisions within the military while drawing international scrutiny over human rights concerns.