Alleged Coup Trial: Accused Colonel Refuses Military Court

Col Mohammed Ma’aji, one of the accused in a case involving 36 individuals charged with alleged mutiny and a plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu, has raised a jurisdictional challenge against the Defence Headquarters Garrison General Court Martial in Abuja. In a preliminary objection, Ma’aji contends that the military tribunal lacks the authority to hear the case, arguing that the charges are fundamentally flawed and that the Armed Forces of Nigeria, as the complainant, does not possess the legal capacity to initiate criminal proceedings. He asserts that the allegations do not constitute mutiny as defined under the Armed Forces Act and emphasizes that the court-martial's jurisdiction is limited by statutory provisions. Additionally, during the ongoing trial of six alleged coup plotters, a witness testified that Ma’aji threatened to forcibly enter the Presidential Villa, raising further concerns regarding the nature of the charges against him.

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