EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian Military Faces Backlash Over Planned Court-Martial Of Alleged Coup Officers Amid Secrecy, Denial Of Access To Lawyers, Families
Sources familiar with the development said the trial is expected to commence soon, with the accused officers reportedly moved to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Garrison for jurisdiction.
The Nigerian military is facing mounting criticism over its plan to court-martial officers accused of plotting a coup, with relatives and associates of the detainees raising concerns about secrecy, due process, and access to legal representation.
Sources familiar with the development said the trial is expected to commence soon, with the accused officers reportedly moved to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Garrison for jurisdiction.
Families of the detained officers allege that they have been left completely uninformed since the arrests nearly seven months ago.
According to them, there has been no formal communication from military authorities, while access to both the detainees and their legal representatives has been consistently denied.
“This is not just a trial, it is a process being controlled from start to finish by the same institution,” a family member told SaharaReporters amid broader concerns among relatives about the fairness of the proceedings.
The families are now calling for the matter to be transferred to a civilian court, where hearings would be conducted publicly.
They argue that such a move would guarantee the accused officers the right to independent legal counsel and ensure that evidence is subjected to open scrutiny.
They have also raised concerns about what they describe as impartiality in the ongoing process, noting that the military institution bringing the accusations is also responsible for the investigation and could ultimately influence the outcome of the trial.
Last Wednesday, SaharaReporters exclusively reported that fresh outrage had erupted over plans by the Nigerian military to conduct what insiders described as secret, staggered hearings for officers detained over an alleged coup plot.
Critics argued that the approach appeared designed to control the outcome of the proceedings and limit transparency.
Multiple sources familiar with the development told SaharaReporters that the proposed hearing arrangement would restrict the accused officers from choosing their own legal representation, while also barring family members from attending proceedings.
One source privy to the matter said the situation had gone beyond mere delays in the judicial process, raising serious concerns about fairness and accountability.
“For many observers, the situation now points to more than just a delayed judicial process. It suggests a calculated effort to manage outcomes, suppress transparency, and control both narrative and accountability,” the source said.
Another insider added that confidence in the process was rapidly eroding.
This comes amid growing public concern over the continued detention of several military officers accused of plotting to overthrow the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Although investigations into the alleged coup plot have been ongoing since 2025, the military has yet to commence any open trial, and details of the accusations remain largely undisclosed.
Affected families have held long-standing fears about the detained officers, who have repeatedly accused authorities of denying them access to their loved ones and withholding basic legal rights.
Earlier this month, wives of some of the detained officers staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, demanding either the immediate release of their husbands or a transparent judicial process.
Dressed in black and carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Justice for our daddies” and “Charge them to court or what are you hiding,” the women decried what they described as prolonged unlawful detention.
They alleged that their husbands had been held incommunicado for over five months without access to lawyers or family members.
According to them, the planned secret hearings further validate fears that the process is being manipulated behind closed doors.
“We are asking for our constitutional rights, the truth, and the safe return of our husbands,” one of the protesters said. “If there is evidence, bring them before a court of law. If there is none, let them go free.”
The detained officers were initially arrested in October 2025 for alleged acts of indiscipline and breaches of military regulations.
However, authorities later claimed that investigations uncovered a broader plot to destabilise the government.
Among those currently in custody is Major H. Yusuf, alongside other officers whose specific roles in the alleged conspiracy have not been fully disclosed.
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (Retd.), had earlier revealed that he was among top officials allegedly marked for assassination in the supposed coup plan.
“I was also a target. I was supposed to be arrested, and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot,” he said during a television interview.
Despite these claims, critics have pointed to inconsistencies in official statements, including conflicting figures and vague descriptions of the alleged offences.
Names of the suspects and their units are as stated below:
1. Brig. Gen. – MA Sadiq – Abuja – DHQ(GAR)
2. Col. – MA Ma’aji – DSA Abuja – DHQ(GAR)
3. Col. – IM Hussain – Morocco – DHQ(GAR)
4. Lt. Col. – M Almakura – 197 Battalion – DHQ(GAR)
5. Lt. Col. – AA Hayatu – 130 Battalion (Main) – DHQ(GAR)
6. Lt. Col. – P Dangnap – 134 Battalion – DHQ(GAR)
7. Wg. Cdr. – AI Yusuf – 409 IHFS – DHQ(GAR)
8. Lt. Col. – S. Bappah – 525 Signal Regiment – DHQ(GAR)
9. Lt. Col. – SM Gana – 115 Battalion – DHQ(GAR)
10. Maj. – MM Jidda – 26 Battalion – DHQ(GAR)
11. Maj. – AJ Ibrahim – AHQ Abuja – DHQ(GAR)
12. Maj. – H Yusuf – Kaduna – DHQ(GAR)
13. Lt. Comdr. – DB Abdullahi – Naval Base Abj – DHQ(GAR)
14. Maj. – JM Ganaks – AFCSC, Jaji – DHQ(GAR)
15. Maj. – AD Dauda – AFCSC, Jaji – DHQ(GAR)
16. Maj. – D Yusuf – 7 Div. Strike Group – DHQ(GAR)
17. Sqn. Ldr. – SB Adamu – ONSA Abuja – DHQ(GAR)
18. Sqn. Ldr. – NG Zuzu – 053 HQ NAF Camp – DHQ(GAR)
19. Maj. – MA Usman – 35 Battalion – DHQ(GAR)
20. Maj. – J Iliyasu – Sch of Arms – DHQ(GAR)
21. Maj. – A Mohammed – 63 BDE GAR – DHQ(GAR)
22. Capt. – G Binuga – DHQ SOF BDE – DHQ(GAR)
23. Capt. – A Yusuf – NASFA – DHQ(GAR)
24. Capt. – IU Zubairu – 563 BDE SIGNAL – DHQ(GAR)
25. Capt. – I Bello – AFCSC Jaji, Kaduna – DHQ(GAR)
26. Capt. – ML Mohammed – 18 Battalion – DHQ(GAR)
27. Lt. – SS Felix – 81 Div. Provost Group – DHQ(GAR)
28. WO – I Nasiru – 82 Div Garrison – DHQ(GAR)
29. Sgt. – Abdul Abdullahi – 82 Div. Training Sch. – DHQ(GAR)
30. Sgt – Alhassan Zakari – 82 Div. Garrison – DHQ(GAR)
31. Cpl. – Audu Momoh – 343 Artillery Regiment – DHQ(GAR)
32. Sgt. – Abubakar Ibrahim – Maiduguri – DHQ(GAR)
33. LCPL – Sambo Danladi – 82 Div. Garrison – DHQ(GAR)
34. Sgt. – Sanda Usman – 167 Battalion – DHQ(GAR)
35. Sgt. – Zubairu Moh’d – 177 Guards Battalion – DHQ(GAR)
36. LCPL – Yushau Nasiru – 82 Div. Garrison – DHQ(GAR)
