Army Defers Alleged Coup Trial Ruling For Fourth Time, Now October 5

The General Court Martial hearing the alleged coup plot case against some military officers accused of attempting to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration has postponed its ruling for the fourth time. Major MU Ardo, the Liaison Officer, signed the notice confirming that the sitting earlier adjourned to Wednesday, 30 September 2026, has now been moved to Monday, 5 October 2026.

The new sitting is scheduled for 10am at the Scorpion Officers' Mess, Asokoro, Abuja. The court, presided over by Air Vice Marshal H. I. Alhaji, was expected to rule on the admissibility of statements allegedly obtained from the accused officers. During a trial-within-a-trial, defence lawyers argued that the statements did not meet the legal requirements of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, alleging that lawyers or witnesses chosen by the accused were not present when the statements were taken and that no video recordings were made to show the officers writing their statements.

Some of the accused officers testified that officials of the Defence Intelligence Agency coerced, intimidated, induced and physically abused them into reproducing pre-written statements containing allegations they claimed were false. They said they were led to believe that making particular statements would secure their release from detention. The Army's notice simply stated: "Any inconvenience caused is highly regretted." No reason was given for the latest postponement.