Nigeria to Begin Court Martial Over Alleged 2025 Coup Plot

Nigeria is set to commence the court martial of 36 military officers accused of plotting to overthrow the federal government in an alleged 2025 coup attempt.

The military tribunal is scheduled to begin sitting on May 8, 2026, barely two weeks after the panel of judges was formally inaugurated.

Proceedings are expected to be conducted behind closed doors at a military facility in Abuja, in line with standard protocols for sensitive national security matters.

According to local media reports, Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji has been identified as the alleged mastermind who mobilised other officers involved in the plot.

Court documents reportedly accuse Ma’aji and his co-defendants of engaging in acts of terrorism and conspiracy against the state.

In a related development, a separate civilian trial connected to the alleged coup is already underway.

Retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja on April 22, 2026, marking the start of parallel judicial proceedings involving non-serving personnel.

The development has drawn significant attention, given Nigeria’s democratic trajectory over the past 25 years.

The country has maintained uninterrupted civilian governance since 1999, following decades of military rule that dominated much of the 20th century.

The outcome of both the military and civilian trials is expected to have far-reaching implications for national security and civil-military relations in Africa’s most populous nation.