Alleged coup: Release detained soldiers or charge before military tribunal – Falana

Human rights lawyer and activist, Femi Falana SAN has called on the Nigerian military authorities to free over 40 soldiers detained over allegations of planning a coup de tart against the Federal Government, or arraign them before a court martial.

Falana in a statement he signed said that the military officers had been in detention for the past three months without trial and even an opportunity to see members of their families or their lawyers. He said government has the option of either releasing them if no prima facie case is established against them, or to bring them to trial before a military court if any case is proven against them.

He said: On October 18, 2025, it was reported in the media that 16 senior military officers had been quizzed for allegedly planning a coup d’etat to overthrow the President Bola Tinubu-led government. The report was promptly denied by the military authorities

In a press statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, it was stated that “The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to inform the public that a routine military exercise has resulted in the arrest of sixteen officers over issues of indiscipline and breach of service regulations.”

Specifically, it was pointed out that “Investigations have revealed that their grievances stemmed largely from perceived career stagnation caused by repeated failure in promotion examinations, among other issues.Some of the apprehended officers had been under jurisdiction for various offences, either awaiting or undergoing trial. Their conduct was deemed incompatible with the standards of military service.”

On his own part, Mr. Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, told the Punch newspaper that the government had full confidence in the military and no reason to doubt the Defence Headquarters’ position dismissing the report as fake. He further stated that, “The Federal Government believes that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is committed to ensuring the territorial integrity of the country and strengthening its fight against insecurity. The Federal Government commends the military and will continue to support them in ensuring the security of Nigeria.”

However, a couple of weeks later, it was reported that the military had arrested additional 15 officers of various ranks in connection with the rumoured coup plot against the Federal Government, bringing the number of detained officers to over 40. The names of some of the detained military officers were published in the media. A top member of the ruling party and some military officers have since been said to be at large.

Notwithstanding the official denial, we have confirmed that the detained military officers have been investigated for their alleged involvement in the rumoured coup plot. We have however been informed by the family members and lawyers of some of the detained military officers that they have been denied access to them for almost three months. It is pertinent to point out that the authorities are under a legal obligation to respect the human rights of the detained military officers since they are presumed innocent until the contrary is proved by the State.

Even though we are totally opposed to any form of unconstitutional change of government, we are compelled to demand for the conditional or unconditional release of the detained military officers from custody. However, if there is prima facie evidence that they had plotted to overthrow the Government, they should be arraigned before special courts-martial and general courts-martial in line with the provisions of the Armed Forces Act and the Nigerian Constitution.