The Nigerian Army has postponed the ruling of the General Court Martial handling the alleged coup case against some military officers for the fourth time. The ruling, initially expected on September 30, 2026, will now be delivered on October 5, 2026, according to a notice issued by the Army. The postponement was announced by Major MU Ardo, the Liaison Officer, who expressed regret over the inconvenience caused by the change. The court will convene at 10am at the Scorpion Officers’ Mess in Asokoro, Abuja.
The alleged coup case involves serving military personnel accused of plotting to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu. The investigation began after security authorities uncovered a plot to remove the government in 2025. The case has attracted attention due to the allegations against serving military personnel and the disputed statements being relied upon by the prosecution. The General Court Martial, presided over by Air Vice Marshal H. I. Alhaji, is currently hearing evidence from both the prosecution and defence.
The immediate issue before the court is to determine whether statements attributed to some of the accused officers were obtained voluntarily and can be used as evidence. The defence has challenged the prosecution’s attempt to tender the statements, arguing that the circumstances under which they were obtained raise questions about their reliability and admissibility. The defence lawyers claim that some accused officers were not allowed to have lawyers or witnesses present when their statements were taken.
One of the soldiers, Corporal Momoh Audu, testified in the proceedings, alleging that he was detained for months and pressured to copy a prepared statement connecting him to the alleged coup plot. Audu claimed that he was held in an underground facility and questioned about his relationship with Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji, one of the accused officers. He disputed the claim that he was closely attached to Ma’aji and alleged that investigators made promises concerning his release while trying to obtain information from him.
The defence has relied on such testimonies to challenge the prosecution’s position on the statements. The prosecution, however, has presented evidence seeking to establish that the statements were voluntarily made and should be admitted by the court. The question of admissibility has become a crucial stage in the military trial, as the statements form part of the evidence the prosecution intends to rely upon against the accused officers.
The repeated adjournments have pushed the ruling further into October, and the court will now have to determine the issue when it resumes on October 5, 2026. The decision could influence the direction of the proceedings, particularly if the contested statements are admitted or rejected. The alleged coup investigation has been the subject of several developments since the arrests began in September 2025.
Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji has been identified as one of the central figures in the alleged plot. The investigation documents examined alleged plans involving military personnel, logistics, vehicles, weapons, and possible targets. The case has raised concerns about the security and stability of the country, and the outcome of the trial is being closely watched.
Key points
- The Nigerian Army has postponed the ruling on the alleged coup case against soldiers to October 5, 2026, for the fourth time.
- The case involves serving military personnel accused of plotting to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
- The court will determine whether statements attributed to some of the accused officers were obtained voluntarily and can be used as evidence.
