The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has begun the key trial of greater than 30 navy officers accused of plotting to overthrow the federal government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The proceedings began on Friday, April 24, 2026. It’s going down behind closed doorways on the Scorpion Mess. Journalists weren’t allowed into the venue. There was tight safety across the facility.
The accused officers had been introduced in early within the morning. They arrived round 8:54 a.m. in a bus belonging to Military Headquarters Garrison. A detention operations car from the Defence Intelligence Company adopted intently behind.
The DHQ had earlier confirmed that the officers would face trial after months of investigation. The suspects had been first arrested in October 2025. Authorities stated intelligence stories linked them to a plot aimed toward destabilising the present administration.
Army authorities determined to prosecute the case via a court docket martial. That is according to present navy legal guidelines guiding inner self-discipline and offences amongst service personnel.
Particulars of the fees haven’t been made public. Nonetheless, sources inside the navy say the allegations border on conspiracy, mutiny, and actions thought of a threat to nationwide safety.
The secrecy surrounding the trial suggests the sensitivity of the case. It additionally factors to issues about nationwide stability and the necessity to stop panic inside the armed forces and the general public.
In the meantime, Politics Nigeria gathered that six different suspects linked to the identical case usually are not a part of the navy trial. They’re civilians and former service members.
The six people had been arraigned earlier within the week earlier than a Federal Excessive Court docket in Abuja. After the court docket session, they had been remanded within the custody of the Division of State Providers (DSS) pending additional hearings.