A Nigerian military court has postponed its ruling on the admissibility of statements tendered by accused military officers in an alleged coup plot trial. The General Court Martial, presided over by Air Vice Marshal H.I. Alhaji, was expected to deliver its ruling on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, but has now deferred it to Monday, October 5, 2026. The court is sitting at the Scorpion Officers' Mess, Asokoro, Abuja, and the new sitting is scheduled to commence at 10 am.
This is the fourth time the court has deferred its ruling on the issue, which is significant to the ongoing trial as it will determine whether statements allegedly made by some of the accused officers can be admitted as evidence. The defence has challenged the statements, alleging that some of the officers were subjected to coercion by officials of the Defence Intelligence Agency and made to reproduce statements containing information they regarded as false.
The dispute prompted a trial-within-trial in which the defence presented evidence challenging the circumstances surrounding the taking of the statements. Defence counsel argued that the statements did not satisfy the legal conditions required for them to be admitted in evidence. They also alleged that lawyers or witnesses selected by some of the accused were not present when the statements were made.
The defence further questioned the absence of video recordings showing some of the officers writing their statements in the presence of their chosen witnesses, as required by relevant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. The lawyers also alleged that some of the accused were not properly cautioned or adequately informed of their rights before making the statements.
The prosecution, however, led evidence to establish that the statements were made voluntarily and without improper pressure. During the trial-within-trial, some of the accused officers gave accounts that differed sharply from the prosecution's position, alleging that they were subjected to coercion, intimidation, inducement and physical abuse while in detention.
The case concerns allegations that some military officers conspired to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu on October 1, 2025. Following investigations by military authorities, the officers were arrested and subsequently arraigned before the General Court Martial in Abuja. The accused officers have denied the allegations.
The court's eventual ruling will determine whether the disputed statements can form part of the prosecution's evidence in the substantive proceedings. The latest postponement prolongs the court's consideration of a central evidentiary issue in the trial, leaving the fate of the accused officers uncertain.
Key points
- The trial has been marked by disputes over the circumstances surrounding the statements attributed to the accused officers.
- The defence has alleged that some of the officers were subjected to coercion and made to reproduce false statements.
- The court's ruling will determine whether the disputed statements can be admitted as evidence in the trial.
