Families of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have raised serious concerns over the treatment of their relatives, alleging torture, prolonged incommunicado detention and denial of access to legal representation, and are demanding a transparent and open trial process.
The families, who addressed journalists in Abuja on Friday, called for urgent intervention by relevant authorities, insisting that while they are not challenging the ongoing court martial, the process must comply with constitutional safeguards and international human rights standards.
Speaking on behalf of the group, activist Aishatu Yesufu alleged that the detained officers had been held for about nine months under harsh conditions, with restricted communication and limited access to family members and legal counsel.
She further claimed that both families and lawyers were denied access to the officers for more than 180 days despite repeated appeals, describing the situation as “oppressive, humiliating and traumatising.”
“We love our country and respect the military. But we are deeply afraid for our loved ones. We are speaking because we believe the truth is being suppressed and the process is not transparent,” she said.
The families also alleged that some of the detained officers are experiencing deteriorating health conditions, including vision and respiratory challenges, which they attributed to prolonged detention conditions. They insisted that full medical reports had not been made available to them.
They further expressed concern that legal representatives were allegedly absent during key stages of interrogation, including statement-taking, and questioned the reported use of restraints during court martial proceedings.
According to them, the absence of family or legal observers during critical stages of investigation raised doubts about the fairness of the process.
“We are not here to declare anyone innocent or guilty. That is for the court to decide. But we are saying the process must be fair, open and transparent,” Yesufu added.
The families demanded that the military authorities open the proceedings to the public and media, allow independent human rights observers to monitor the trial, and permit independent medical professionals to assess the health status of the detained officers.
They also called on the international community to closely monitor the case, stressing that their demand was not for interference but accountability and due process.
“Our families are suffering. Our children cry daily for their parents. We have already endured so much pain,” some of the relatives said emotionally.
Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, who also spoke at the briefing, urged the Federal Government to ensure strict adherence to the rule of law in handling the case.
He appealed directly to the President, insisting that Nigeria’s democratic status places a duty on authorities to guarantee fairness and dignity for all accused persons, regardless of the allegations against them.
Adeyanju warned that failure to address the concerns raised by the families could erode public confidence in the justice system and democratic institutions.
He also referenced past judicial pronouncements affirming the rights of accused persons, arguing that even individuals facing grave charges must be treated humanely and granted full access to legal and medical support.
The lawyer further urged authorities to allow independent doctors to examine the detainees and ensure that their medical needs are properly attended to, noting that transparency would strengthen public trust in the proceedings.
As of press time, there had been no official response from the military authorities regarding the allegations.
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