The Nigerian military has constituted a court-martial to prosecute 36 personnel accused of involvement in a plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The panel, set up by the Defence Headquarters, was inaugurated on Friday at the Scorpion Mess in Asokoro, Abuja, under tight security.
Proceedings were conducted behind closed doors, with journalists denied access and restrictions placed on the use of mobile devices. The accused officers were transported to the venue in a bus belonging to the army headquarters garrison.
Separately, the federal government, through the office of the attorney-general, is prosecuting six other suspects linked to the alleged plot. Those facing trial include a retired major general, a retired naval captain, a serving police inspector, and civilians.
They were arraigned earlier in the week before a federal high court in Abuja on a 13-count charge and subsequently remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). The court fixed April 27 for the commencement of an accelerated hearing.
A former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, was also named in the charge but is reportedly still at large.
The development comes months after speculation surrounding a possible coup attempt gained attention. In September 2025, the federal government cancelled the planned Independence Day parade, initially scheduled to mark Nigeria’s 65th anniversary.
Although some reports linked the cancellation to a coup plot, the Defence Headquarters dismissed such claims at the time.
Subsequently, arrests were made in October 2025, with several military officers detained over the alleged conspiracy, while others reportedly went into hiding.
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In January 2026, the Defence Headquarters confirmed that investigations had uncovered a plot to remove the President, noting that implicated officers would face military judicial processes.
Family members of the detained officers have since called for transparency, urging authorities to conduct an open trial. In March, relatives appealed to the President to grant public hearings and allow access to the suspects.
Earlier in April, families staged a protest at the National Assembly, demanding a speedy trial and the right to see their detained loved ones.