A few journalists invited to cover the inauguration of Court Martial for trial of the alleged coup plotters were chased out of the premises of Scorpion Officers Mess, venue of the trial, on Friday.

Confusion set in when the journalists, including the Guardian Reporter, were constantly asked to move from one location to the other as soon as they arrived the venue.

As they move from one spot to the other, a bus conveying the alleged coupists arrived at about 8:53am. Thereafter, they were ordered to move out the premises of the trial venue.

The Guardian gathered that 36 officers were brought in for the Court Martial in what is likely to be secret trial. Guardian also learned a statement will be issued after the inauguration.

Sixteen senior officers were in October 2025 arrested for the Defence Headquartres (DHQ) termed indiscipline and breach of service regulations.

Initially, the military high command denied rumours of the coup, saying that investigations showed that the grievances of the arrested officers were linked to repeated failure in promotion examinations and perceived career stagnation.

A statement from the Defence Headquartres (DHQ) had described the conduct of the officers as incompatible with military standards, adding that some of the officers had been under jurisdiction for various offences and were either awaiting or undergoing trial.

However, in January 2026, the military admitted that there was a failed coup plot, saying that a comprehensive investigation had been concluded in line with established military procedures.

According to the military, some officers were found with cases to answer over allegations of plotting to overthrow the government, and the report has now been forwarded to the appropriate superior authority.

“The comprehensive investigation process, conducted in accordance with established military procedures, has carefully examined all circumstances surrounding the conduct of the affected personnel,” it said.

“The findings have identified a number of the officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government, which is inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the AFN.”

Later list of the indicted officers went viral on various social media platforms which the military neither denied nor confirmed.

They are: Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq, Colonel M. A. Ma’aji, Lieutenant Colonel S. Bappah, Lieutenant Colonel A. A. Hayatu, Lieutenant Colonel Dangnan, Lieutenant Colonel M. Almakura, Major A. J. Ibrahim, Major M. M. Jiddah, Major M. A. Usman and Major D. Yusuf.

The others are Major I. Dauda, Captain I. Bello, Captain A. A. Yusuf, Lieutenant S. S. Felix, Lieutenant Commander D. B. Abdullahi and Squadron Leader S. B. Adamu.