The Nigerian military has inaugurated a general court-martial to try 36 service personnel accused of involvement in an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu's administration. The Defense Headquarters convened the tribunal on Friday at the Scorpion Mess in Asokoro, Abuja, under tight security. Proceedings were held in private, with no access granted to journalists despite prior invitations, including to accredited defense correspondents. Mobile phone use was prohibited at the venue, preventing documentation of the defendants' arrival. The 36 accused personnel were transported in an Army Headquarters Garrison bus, arriving at approximately 8:53 am. The court-martial runs parallel to criminal charges filed by the Federal Government against civilians allegedly linked to the same plot, currently being heard at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The military has not disclosed the identities of the accused or the specific charges they face. No timeline for the conclusion of the tribunal has been provided.
The military convened a closed-door court-martial for 36 personnel accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu, yet blocked journalists with official invitations from witnessing the proceedings. The same government demanding transparency from citizens restricts access to a trial meant to uphold institutional integrity. If the process is meant to inspire confidence in the military's adherence to due process, the secrecy surrounding its opening raises immediate questions. The families of the accused and the public have no way to verify fairness when even the press is locked out.
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