Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has urged the Nigerian military to either release or formally arraign officers detained over an alleged coup plot against the President Bola Tinubu–led administration, stressing that prolonged detention without trial violates their fundamental rights.
Reports of a coup attempt surfaced last October following the Federal Government’s sudden cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day parade.
Although speculation linked the cancellation to an alleged plot, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) denied any connection and insisted that the arrest of officers mentioned in media reports had nothing to do with a coup.
Despite these denials, it later emerged that more officers were being detained, raising the number to over 40.
While some of the detained personnel have been identified, others—reportedly including senior officers and a ruling party member—remain unnamed, fueling public concern and speculation.
In a statement, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, explained that some officers were under investigation for issues such as perceived career stagnation and failure in promotion examinations, while others were facing separate disciplinary matters.
The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, also dismissed coup rumours, reaffirming the government’s confidence in the loyalty and professionalism of the Armed Forces.
Falana, however, expressed concern that many of the officers have been held for months without access to legal counsel.
Emphasising the principle of presumption of innocence, he called on military authorities to respect due process by releasing the officers or charging them before a court-martial where there is prima facie evidence against them.