EXCLUSIVE(SAHARA REPORTERS): Court-Martial President Air Vice Marshal Alhaji Threatens Phone Confiscation Amid Secret Coup Trial Leaks

Air Vice Marshal H.I. Alhaji (NAF/2211), who presides over the General Court-Martial involving 36 Nigerian military personnel accused of plotting to oust President Bola Tinubu's government, has voiced strong displeasure regarding a recent SaharaReporters exposé. He issued a stern caution to legal representatives involved in the proceedings, urging them to cease unauthorized disclosures from the covert trial.

According to several individuals with knowledge of the court-martial, Air Vice Marshal Alhaji bemoaned during a session that confidential details of the ongoing case had made their way into public discourse. He reportedly issued a warning, suggesting that lawyers' mobile phones and other electronic gadgets might be confiscated before they gain entry to the courtroom should any additional information be divulged.

Those present recounted that the court-martial president pointed directly to a SaharaReporters article that had divulged specific aspects of the 36 military personnel's trial. He conveyed his profound disappointment with the defence counsel. A source quoted him stating, “He said his attention had been drawn to a publication by SaharaReporters and that he was highly disappointed in every one of the defence lawyers.”

The same source further revealed that Air Vice Marshal Alhaji expressed grievances over the inclusion of his name and personal information in the report, characterizing it as a personal affront. The source relayed, “He said whoever made the publication was attacking his personality. He stated that because of the publication, lawyers from different places had approached him with unsolicited advice and requests to assist him in combating whoever was responsible for the report.”

The source indicated that the court-martial president recalled his earlier directive to all parties to refrain from publicizing or discussing the trial's specifics beyond the courtroom. “He said he had already asked everyone present in the hall not to publicise or speak about the court proceedings and that he was disappointed that information still got out. He warned that if the person responsible for the publication was identified, that person would face consequences,” the source affirmed.

Furthermore, the source mentioned that Air Vice Marshal Alhaji seemed to minimize the potential damage the article could inflict on his public standing. “He said that although his information had been published, his reputation could not be ruined because he is like a ‘human teddy bear’ and people love him regardless. He repeated that the publication could not damage his reputation because he is a human teddy bear,” the source quoted.

The president of the court-martial also posited that media coverage of the trial was detrimental to the accused service members, contrary to any perceived assistance. Another source relayed, “He said those releasing information to the media were doing a great disservice to the defendants. According to him, people might think they are helping the accused persons, but they are actually causing harm.” The source added, “He further stated that publishing the names of the defendants was creating an impression that members of one part of the country were attempting to overthrow a government headed by someone from another part of the country. He said such reports could fuel unnecessary perceptions and narratives.”

Sources indicated that Air Vice Marshal Alhaji implored the individual responsible for the leaks to cease all communication with members of the press. A source quoted him saying, “He said information about the trial should not be in the public domain and that whoever was speaking to the media should refrain from doing so. He stated that he was certain that the person responsible for the publication was either present in court or represented by someone present in court.”

Nevertheless, questions arose during the sessions concerning the perceived inconsistency in objecting to media reports. A source pointed out that particulars about the accused individuals had already been released to the public even prior to the commencement of the investigations. “Publications containing the names and information of the defendants had already been made before the trial commenced. Several reports had been released during the investigation stage, including sensitive information about the accused persons,” the source explained. The source added, “People had already published information while investigations were ongoing. Sensitive details had already entered the public space long before the current objections to media reporting.”

Additionally, the sources revealed that Air Vice Marshal Alhaji mentioned remarks reportedly shared with him by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) regarding legal points made by the defence team. As per the sources, the court-martial president stated that a SAN had approached him, expressing astonishment that lawyers were questioning a panel ruling on the establishment of a prima facie case against the accused. A source narrated, “According to him, the SAN questioned why learned counsel, including senior counsel, would challenge the ruling when similar decisions had been upheld by the Supreme Court.”

This comment reportedly provoked a response from one of the defence lawyers. The source stated, “At that point, the learned Senior Advocate representing one of the accused persons said he felt personally attacked because he was the one who made the application asking members of the panel to recuse themselves based on the ruling they had delivered.” The source continued, “The SAN representing one of the accused persons argued that merely because the person who approached the president was also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria did not automatically make him correct. He insisted that whoever the SAN was should come forward and openly identify himself.”

While the heated exchange quickly concluded, sources confirmed that Air Vice Marshal Alhaji remained visibly agitated by the SaharaReporters article, reiterating his strong wish for the court-martial proceedings to remain confidential.

The ongoing court-martial involves 36 military personnel who are accused of being part of an alleged conspiracy to overthrow President Bola Tinubu's administration. These proceedings have garnered significant public interest, alongside worries about transparency, adherence to due process, and the fundamental rights of the defendants. SaharaReporters had previously highlighted claims of bias and contention surrounding this General Court-Martial.

This controversy arose from earlier reports indicating that the court-martial president had asserted the existence of a prima facie case against the defendants, even before the prosecution had presented any witnesses or evidence. This declaration sparked considerable alarm among defence lawyers, who then accused the military tribunal of prejudging the matter and consequently called for the panel to withdraw from further involvement.

Information obtained by SaharaReporters indicates that these officers and soldiers were apprehended, held, and later brought before a general court-martial. They face accusations of participating in a plot to overthrow the Nigerian government between January 2022 and November 2025, with alleged activities spanning Abuja, Kaduna, and Enugu. Court documents seen by SaharaReporters reveal that the defendants face 25 charges, including conspiracy, mutiny, failure to suppress mutiny, and other violations of the Armed Forces Act.

Sources close to the proceedings informed SaharaReporters that the defence counsel had contested the court-martial's authority to hear the case. They argued that the accusations fundamentally constituted treason, an offence they maintained falls exclusively under the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court. “Our position was that the court lacks jurisdiction because the defendants were charged with mutiny and treason. We argued that only the Federal High Court has jurisdiction to entertain an offence of treason and that the charge, in its entirety, is fundamentally defective,” one of the defence lawyers had previously told SaharaReporters.