Relatives of military officers standing trial over an alleged coup plot broke their silence on Friday, appearing before journalists in Abuja to raise alarm over the physical condition of their detained loved ones and what they described as a deeply flawed legal process.
The families, who said they had endured nearly nine months of anxiety and restricted access since the arrests, alleged that several of the accused officers were now battling deteriorating eyesight, respiratory problems and visible injuries — conditions they attributed to prolonged confinement in poorly ventilated underground facilities.
Speaking as the spokesperson for the group, Aisha Yusuf was emphatic that their appearance was driven by conscience, not politics.
“We are not politicians. We are not anarchists. We are only law-abiding citizens compelled to speak out,” she said. “We love our country. We respect the military and its laws. But we are deeply afraid for our loved ones. We are speaking now because we believe the truth is being suppressed.”
Yusuf told journalists that family members and legal representatives were permitted only a single visit per week, and alleged that the officers were denied counsel or family presence during the period when statements were taken from them. She further claimed that complete medical reports had been withheld despite visible signs of deterioration among the detainees.
Perhaps the most striking allegation concerned the treatment of the officers inside the courtroom itself.
“They are being leg- and hand-chained in Court Martial, in an open desecration of their human rights and dignity,” Yusuf said. “These are officers who are being humiliated so brazenly and openly that one can only imagine what happens behind the scenes.”
She was careful, however, to distinguish between questioning the process and prejudging its outcome. “We are not here to say our relatives are innocent of every charge. That is for the court to decide. But we are saying that the process has not been fair and open,” she added.
The families called for court-martial proceedings to be opened to the media, the public and international human rights observers.
Shafa’atu Ali Agbo, wife of Lt. Col. M.A. Al-Makura, corroborated the health concerns, noting that the military had itself acknowledged the eyesight problems. “In fact, even the army recommended glasses for them to use,” she said.
Aisha Nana Usman, wife of Lt. Col. Sadiq Mohammed, described conditions that she said stripped the officers of basic dignity from the moment of their arrest.
“Their fundamental human rights were denied. Ours was also denied. We made several appeals for us to see them or even hear from them before they are charged. And it took them so long before they granted our request,” she said.
She added that physical restraints remained in place even during meals. “Up till now, all of them are still in cuffs. Their hands and legs are still in cuffs. I don’t know why they are being treated like they are not humans. These are officers who put their lives on the line to save the country. They deserve to be treated better and fairly.”
Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju, who appeared alongside the families, directed his appeal squarely at the presidency.
“My own appeal goes directly to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Tinubu, that as the leader of the nation and father of the nation, he has a responsibility to ensure that no citizen of the country is put beneath or above the law,” he said.
Adeyanju stressed that the presumption of innocence remained intact for all the accused, and urged the President to act on the families’ concerns. “These people are still presumed to be innocent under the law. The issues that the families have raised — Mr President should direct the authorities to look into them.”
On the question of medical care, Adeyanju proposed a practical solution. “The family should even be accorded an opportunity of providing medical doctors, if it will assuage their feelings and encourage them to have faith in the system,” he said.
The Nigerian Army had not responded to the allegations as of the time of this report.
