Families of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot have appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Armed Forces to allow open trials and grant them access to their relatives, saying the prolonged detention has caused deep emotional distress.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the families said the officers have been in custody for more than 160 days and deserve to have their case heard in a public court rather than through closed proceedings.
They expressed concern over what they described as shifting public narratives surrounding the allegations, insisting that the accused should be presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the Constitution.
“We do not want secret military proceedings. We do not want narratives fed to the press. We want a public court,” the families said in a joint statement, calling for transparency in the handling of the matter.
The families also appealed directly to President Tinubu, urging him to act with compassion and ensure justice is not delayed. They further asked the wife of the president, Remi Tinubu, to consider their situation and support efforts toward fairness and openness.
Highlighting inconsistencies in earlier reports about the alleged plot, the families questioned changes in the figures and details previously circulated, urging authorities to clarify the facts and present evidence in court.
They maintained that investigations had reportedly been concluded and called for formal charges to be filed, stressing that justice must be both done and seen to be done.
The families concluded by renewing their request for access to the detained officers, saying they simply want confirmation of their safety and a transparent legal process.
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