The Nigerian Armed Forces have constituted a general court-martial to prosecute officers linked to an alleged coup attempt, signalling the official start of the trial process.
The personnel were escorted to the hearing venue, Guards Brigade Officers’ Mess in Asokoro, at about 8:53 a.m. on April 24, 2026, amid heavy security presence.
Access to the proceedings was restricted, as journalists were barred from entering the courtroom, with the session held in camera. Meanwhile, several civilian lawyers were seen arriving ahead of the session, indicating legal representation for the accused.
The development marks the commencement of disciplinary proceedings by the military after months of inquiry into the suspected plot.
The case originated in October 2025, when about 16 active-duty personnel, including both senior and junior ranks, were detained over alleged breaches of military conduct.
Following further probes, military authorities determined that some of the suspects had questions to answer relating to an alleged bid to topple the democratically elected government, prompting the decision to refer the matter to a court-martial.
Below are the full names and ranks of the 16 indicted officers:
List of indicted officers:
- Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq (Nasarawa, 44th Regular Course)
- Colonel M. A. Ma’aji (Niger, 47th Regular Course)
- Lieutenant Colonel S. Bappah (Bauchi, 56th Regular Course)
- Lieutenant Colonel A. A. Hayatu (Kaduna, 56th Regular Course)
- Lieutenant Colonel Dangnan (Plateau, 56th Regular Course)
- Lieutenant Colonel M. Almakura (Nasarawa, 56th Regular Course)
- Major A. J. Ibrahim (Gombe, 56th Regular Course)
- Major M. M. Jiddah (Katsina, 56th Regular Course)
- Major M. A. Usman (Federal Capital Territory, 60th Regular Course)
- Major D. Yusuf (Gombe, 59th Regular Course)
- Major I. Dauda (Jigawa, DSSC 38)
- Captain I. Bello (DSSC 43)
- Captain A. A. Yusuf
- Lieutenant S. S. Felix (DSSC)
- Lieutenant Commander D. B. Abdullahi (Nigerian Navy)
- Squadron Leader S. B. Adamu (Nigerian Air Force)
