In a significant ruling, the Federal High Court in Abuja has accepted statements and video evidence from six individuals accused of plotting a coup against the Nigerian government. The court dismissed the defendants' claims that the evidence was obtained through torture and coercion, asserting that the statements were made voluntarily during military interrogations.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik presided over the trial-within-trial and concluded that the Federal Government had sufficiently demonstrated that the defendants willingly participated in the interrogations. The judge characterized the defendants' allegations of duress as mere afterthoughts, stating that there was no credible evidence to support their claims of torture by military personnel.

The defendants include retired military officers: Maj Gen Mohammed Gana and Navy Capt Erasmus Victor, alongside four others—Insp Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani. They were arraigned on April 22, 2026, facing a 13-count charge that includes treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence, and money laundering related to terrorism financing. The case is officially marked as FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026.

The court's decision follows a challenge from the defense attorneys regarding the admissibility of the evidence presented by the prosecution. This challenge arose after the testimony of four prosecution witnesses, including an Army officer identified only by the codename AAA, who provided video recordings of the defendants' interrogations. Following the court's ruling, the judge has scheduled the next hearing for December 7 and 10 to continue with the trial proceedings.

The alleged coup plot was uncovered in September 2025, when the military announced the arrest of several active and retired officers suspected of conspiring to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu. The investigation revealed a complex network involving both military personnel and civilians, leading to the suspects' handover to appropriate legal authorities for prosecution. This case marks a critical moment in Nigeria's ongoing efforts to address security threats and uphold the rule of law amid rising concerns over political stability.