Coup Trial: Military Again Postpones Ruling on Admissibility of Statements

The General Court Martial sitting over the alleged coup plot case involving some military officers accused of attempting to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu has again postponed its ruling.

 

The ruling, earlier scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, 2026, has now been rescheduled for Monday, October 5, 2026.

 

In a notice issued to members of the court and other concerned parties, the military said the sitting earlier adjourned to Wednesday had been postponed.

 

“The GCM sitting earlier adjourned to Wednesday, 30 September, 2026, has now been postponed to Monday, 5 October, 2026,” the notice stated.

 

The new sitting is scheduled to commence at 10 a.m. at the Scorpion Officers’ Mess, Asokoro, Abuja.

 

The notice, signed by Major M.U. Ardo, the Liaison Officer, did not state the reason for the postponement but expressed regret over any inconvenience caused.

 

The latest development marks the fourth postponement of the ruling, further delaying the court’s decision in the military trial.

 

The ruling is expected to determine the admissibility of statements allegedly obtained from some of the accused officers following a trial-within-a-trial conducted by the court.

 

Defence lawyers had challenged the admission of the statements, alleging that some of the accused officers were coerced by officials of the Defence Intelligence Agency into making or reproducing statements they said contained false information.

 

During the trial-within-a-trial, the defence argued that the statements did not meet the legal requirements for admissibility. The lawyers also questioned the absence of video recordings showing some of the officers writing their statements in the presence of their chosen witnesses.

 

The defence further alleged that some officers were not properly cautioned or adequately informed of their rights before making the statements.

 

The prosecution, however, presented evidence seeking to establish that the statements were made voluntarily and without improper pressure.

 

Some of the accused officers gave contrary testimony, alleging that they were subjected to coercion, intimidation, inducement and physical abuse during their detention.

 

According to evidence presented before the court, some officers alleged that they were made to believe that reproducing particular statements would facilitate their release.

 

They further claimed that some statements had already been prepared by intelligence officials and that they were compelled to copy or sign them despite allegedly having no knowledge of certain matters contained in the documents.

 

The General Court Martial is presided over by Air Vice Marshal H.I. Alhaji of the Nigerian Air Force, with proceedings being conducted at the Scorpion Officers’ Mess in Asokoro, Abuja.

 

The court’s decision on the admissibility of the disputed statements is expected to determine whether the evidence can be relied upon in the ongoing proceedings.