The General Court Martial hearing the alleged coup plot case involving some military officers accused of attempting to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has postponed its ruling for the fourth time.
The ruling, initially scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, 2026, has now been moved to Monday, October 5, 2026.
In a notice issued to members of the court and other concerned parties, the military said the sitting earlier scheduled for September 30 had been postponed to October 5.
The new sitting is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at the Scorpion Officers’ Mess, Asokoro, Abuja.
The notice, signed by Major M.U. Ardo, the liaison officer, did not give a reason for the postponement.
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 admissibility 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 disputed.
The defence also argued that lawyers or witnesses selected by some of the accused officers were not present when the statements were taken and questioned the absence of video recordings of the process.
The prosecution, however, presented evidence aimed at establishing that the statements were made voluntarily and without improper pressure.
Some of the accused officers also testified that they were subjected to intimidation, inducement and physical abuse during their detention and alleged that they were forced to reproduce pre-written statements.
The General Court Martial is presided over by Air Vice Marshal H.I. Alhaji of the Nigerian Air Force.
The court’s ruling on the admissibility of the disputed statements is expected to determine whether the prosecution can rely on them as evidence in the ongoing trial.
