By  Taibat Ummi Yakubu

The General Court Martial hearing the alleged coup plot case involving some military officers accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has postponed its ruling for the fourth time.

The court had been expected to deliver its decision on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, but a fresh notice issued to parties in the case moved the sitting to Monday, October 5.

The new proceedings are scheduled to begin at 10am at the Scorpion Officers’ Mess in Asokoro, Abuja.

The postponement was contained in a notice signed by Major M.U. Ardo, Liaison Officer to the court. No reason was given for the latest adjournment, although the military expressed regret over any inconvenience caused by the change.

The repeated postponement has prolonged the wait for a decision on a key preliminary issue in the trial — whether statements allegedly obtained from some of the accused officers can be admitted as evidence.

The dispute over the statements led to a trial-within-a-trial after defence lawyers challenged their admissibility and questioned the circumstances under which they were obtained.

The defence has alleged that some of the officers were subjected to coercion, intimidation and other forms of pressure while in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

According to evidence presented during the mini-trial, some accused officers claimed they were compelled to write, reproduce or sign statements that they said contained information they did not originate and, in some cases, considered false.

Some also alleged that they were made to believe that reproducing particular statements would help secure their release from detention.

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The defence further questioned whether proper procedures were followed when the statements were taken, including whether the officers were adequately informed of their rights and whether their chosen lawyers or witnesses were present.

Lawyers representing the accused also raised questions about the absence of video recordings which, they argued, should have captured some of the statement-taking sessions in accordance with provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

The prosecution has disputed the allegations, presenting evidence intended to show that the statements were voluntarily made and were not obtained through improper pressure.

The court is now expected to determine whether the disputed statements satisfy the legal requirements for admission as evidence.

That decision could have significant implications for the continuation of the proceedings, as the statements form part of the evidence the prosecution seeks to rely upon in the case.

The General Court Martial is chaired by Air Vice Marshal H.I. Alhaji of the Nigerian Air Force.

The alleged coup case has attracted significant attention because of the nature of the allegations against the officers and the potential consequences of the court’s eventual findings.

For now, however, proceedings remain focused on the admissibility of the disputed statements, with all eyes now on October 5 for the court’s next sitting.