There are indications that the Federal Government is undecided on the mode of trial for the officers alleged to have plotted a coup against President Bola Tinubu.
CEOAFRICA source gathered that the Federal Government has not given instruction on whether the suspects should be court-martialled or arraigned in a regular court.
According to credible sources, the confusion stems from concerns that the offence was committed under a democratic government, not in a military administration where erring officers could have been arraigned in military courts.
In October 2025, the military arrested 16 senior officers, including one Brigadier General, a Naval officer, and Air Force personnel, but the authority denied that it had something to do with the coup plot.
However, the Defence Headquarters, on January 26, admitted that the officers were indeed arrested for their involvement in a coup plot.
The DHQ Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, said the suspects would be arraigned before “relevant military judicial panels to face trial in line with the Armed Forces Act” and other applicable service regulations.
Apart from the military officers, about 24 other suspects were arrested in connection with the plan to topple Tinubu’s administration.
However, the Defence Headquarters, on January 26, admitted that the officers were indeed arrested for their involvement in a coup plot.
The DHQ Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, said the suspects would be arraigned before “relevant military judicial panels to face trial in line with the Armed Forces Act” and other applicable service regulations.
Apart from the military officers, about 24 other suspects were arrested in connection with the plan to topple Tinubu’s administration.
However, since the presentation of the report, the military has remained silent on the trial of the suspects.
Undecided judicial process
CEOAFRICA source learnt from top military officers that the silence was due to indecision on how to prosecute the suspects.
The officers, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak on the matter, confided in CEOAFRICA source that while the leadership preferred to court-martial the indicted officers, the Presidency was not convinced that a military court was appropriate for the arraignment.
One of the officers at the Defence Headquarters, who is knowledgeable about the investigations said, “We (the military leadership) are waiting for the President’s directive on the constitution of the court-martial panel.
“The DHQ had earlier announced that the indicted officers would be court-martialled in line with our rules. But there are some people, including government officials at the federal level, arguing that a court martial is not appropriate.
“But I think there is a clarification here. Only the military officers will be court-martialled. We have our system. We have our ways of doing things. The civilians will be taken to a regular court; they are not part of us.”
