Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has urged the Nigerian military to either formally charge or immediately release officers being held over an alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Falana stressed that detaining officers for months without access to their families or legal representation violates Nigeria’s Constitution and international human rights obligations. While firmly opposing coups or any unconstitutional seizure of power, he insisted that national security must not come at the expense of the rule of law.
According to Falana, the officers—reportedly arrested from October 2025—remain legally innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. He warned that prolonged, incommunicado detention undermines democracy and due process.
The controversy began after reports emerged that senior military officers were arrested over an alleged coup plot. Although defence authorities later described the arrests as part of an internal disciplinary exercise involving breaches of military regulations, subsequent reports suggested that the number of detained officers had risen to over 40.
Despite official denials of any coup-related investigation, Falana noted that credible information indicates the officers were indeed questioned in connection with the alleged plot.
He added that family members and lawyers have complained of being denied access to some detainees for nearly three months.
Falana emphasized that if authorities have credible evidence against the officers, the appropriate step is prosecution under the Armed Forces Act through courts-martial—not indefinite detention.
“Respect for due process is non-negotiable in a democratic society,” he said, adding that justice must be transparent, lawful, and timely.