Nigerian military inaugurate general court martial to try 36 serving personnel ova alleged coup plot to overthrow Tinubu

Di Defence Headquarters for Nigeria don inaugurate general court martial to try 36 serving personnel ova alleged coup plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu last year.

For dia statement on X on Friday, 24 April, di Defence Headquarters say di inauguration mark ogbonge step to reinforce discipline, accountability and di commitment of di Armed Forces to safeguard national integrity and constituted authority.

"Proceedings of di court go dey conducted wit di highest standards of fairness, impartiality and strict adherence to due process wey go guarantee say justice go dey served witout fear or favour," di statement tok.

Dem say all di cases go dey addressed within extant legal frameworks of di military justice system.

"Di DHQ remain resolute in upholding professionalism, discipline and di rule of law while ensuring say di rights of all personnel dey respected and di tenets of fair hearing dey upheld."

Dis dey come two days afta Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of di Federal High Court for Abuja give order say make dem detain six pipo wey di Nigeria govment sama accuse say dem bin plan coup to comot President Bola Tinubu from office.

Dis na afta di Attorney General of di Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, imsef lead di prosecution team wey arraign di six suspects on top 13-count charges wey di govment sama dem.

Di names of di suspects na Mohammed Ibrahim Gana wey be retired major general; Erasmus Ochegobia Victor wey be retired navy captain; Ahmed Ibrahim wey be serving police inspector; Zekeri Umoru - electrician wey dey work for di Presidential Villa; Bukar Kashim Goni, and one Islamic cleric, Abdulkadir Sani.

Di charge sheet also mention di name of former Bayelsa State govnor and also former Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva wey prosecutors say e dey on di run.

Na di suspects wey dem no fit try bifor di military court bin appear bifor di Federal High Court for Abuja on Wednesday.

How court martial dey work for civilian govment

BBC News Pidgin tok to one former Nigerian military pesin, Sani Kukasheka, wey explain how court martial dey work under civilian govment.

"A court martial na like State High Court. If you no dey satisfied wit di judgement, you fit go Appeal Court, even though di judgement still need confirmation from di Army Council," Kukasheka tok.

Kukasheka add say court martial dey mainly for trial of military personnel wey dey under both military law and civil law, as citizens of di kontri.

"Di court martial dey constitutional and e get power to try offences and give punishment, from reduction of rank, dismissal, jail sentence, and even death sentence," Kukasheka tok.

E also add say anybodi wey dem accuse and dey face trial must get defence lawyer for court martial, depending on di case.

As for di fate of di coup plotters, Kukasheka tok say na only di court get power to decide if dem find dem guilty or not.

"Na only issue of confirmation remain, wey legal experts go determine. Na di facts on ground go decide if dis pipo wey dey stand trial dey guilty or not."

Anoda civilian legal expert, Barrister Umar Bala, also tok about di mata to BBC News Pidgin. E say court martial dey legal and e get power to try any military pesin wey commit offence.

"Court martial na military court wey law allow, and e dey try armed forces personnel for breach of military discipline, serious offences, or violation of military law," e tok.

E add say dose wey dem arrest for alleged coup attempt, if court confam say dem guilty, court fit sentence dem.

"Dose pipo wey dem accuse of coup attempt for Nigeria, if court find dem guilty, di court fit sentence dem to death, bicos treason na one of di biggest offences," e tok.