Prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has urged the Federal Government and military authorities to either release or formally charge more than 40 Nigerian military officers reportedly detained over an alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The controversy dates back to October 18, 2025, when reports surfaced that 16 senior officers were being interrogated for allegedly planning to overthrow the government. The Nigerian military, however, denied the coup claims, insisting the arrests were part of routine disciplinary procedures within the armed forces.
In a statement at the time, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, said the officers’ grievances were largely linked to “perceived career stagnation caused by repeated failure in promotion examinations.” He added that some of those detained were already facing investigations or trials for other service-related offences.
Similarly, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, dismissed the coup reports as false, expressing confidence in the Armed Forces of Nigeria and praising their loyalty to the constitution and national security.
Despite these assurances, further reports later indicated that about 15 more officers had been taken into custody over the same alleged plot, bringing the total number of detainees to more than 40. While the identities of some of the officers have been made public, others — including high-ranking personnel and a member of the ruling party — are reportedly still being sought.
Reacting to the developments, Falana condemned the prolonged detention of the officers without access to legal representation, stressing that their fundamental rights must be protected.
“They are presumed innocent until proven otherwise by the State,” he said, adding that while any attempt to overthrow a constitutional government must be firmly opposed, due process cannot be ignored.
Falana insisted that if there is credible evidence linking any of the officers to a coup plot, they should be promptly arraigned before special or general courts-martial in line with the Armed Forces Act and the Nigerian Constitution. Otherwise, he said, they should be released.
His intervention has reignited debate over the balance between national security and the rule of law, as questions continue to mount over the legality and transparency of the ongoing detentions.
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