• Super Admin
• 06 Mar, 2026

The families of the detained officers accused of a coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu have called for justice to be done openly in the matter in accordance with the Constitution. Addressing reporters in a press conference in Abuja on Friday, the families, including spouses, children, parents, and other relatives, said that the past months that the officers have been in detention have been deeply painful for them. Speaking on behalf of the families, the wife of one of the detained officers, Maimina Bashir, said they have watched helplessly as narratives are presented to the public, "subjecting our husbands to trial by media." She said at the same time, some of them have faced intimidation from the very men in uniform sworn to protect Nigerians. She said, "We stand before you as families, wives, mothers, and relatives, whose husbands and brothers have been in detention for over 160 days without being brought before an open court of law. For more than five months, our families have lived with uncertainty, fear, and unanswered questions. "Today we are here for one simple reason: to ask that justice be done openly and in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. "These past months have been deeply painful for our families. We have watched helplessly as narratives are presented to the public, subjecting our husbands to trial by media. At the same time, some of us have faced intimidation from the very men in uniform sworn to protect Nigerians. "Our husbands served this country faithfully on the frontlines, risking their lives in defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Today, their families are left with fear, uncertainty, and unanswered questions. "We speak today not with anger, but with the heavy hearts of wives and mothers. "We appeal to Mr President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a father and grandfather, and to Her Excellency, the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, a mother, grandmother and revered pastor, as leaders of this nation at this moment in time, to please look upon our situation with compassion, wisdom, courage and justice. We respectfully beseech you to examine and be receptive to all the facts of this highly sensitive case with an open mind. "We ask only for what the 1999 Constitution guarantees every Nigerian: that our husbands be treated as innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law." Bashir said he should not be scapegoated because of the allegations. "The allegations against them must not be used as a tool or a scapegoat. We want due process, nothing more and nothing less," Bashir said. She asked for compassion from the Nigerian Military. "To the men and women of the Nigerian military: we are not your enemies. We are wives, mothers, and sisters. We struggle to understand how the same institution that our husbands served with dedication has now become the source of our deepest pain. "We respectfully ask for compassion and transparency. Grant us access to our husbands. Let us see them and know they are safe and alive," she said. She raised questions over the inconsistencies in the allegations, saying they demand clarity "There are inconsistencies that have raised serious concerns. Initially, the public was told that N12 billion had been discovered in the account of one of the officers. Today, the narrative has changed. The amount is now said to be N835 million, and it is reportedly in a company account rather than the account of any officer. What was once presented as N12 billion has now been reduced by more than 93 per cent. "Furthermore, the allegations themselves have changed. At first, the officers were reportedly arrested for indiscipline. Later, the allegation became conspiracy to commit a coup d'état. We respectfully ask: what changed? If there is evidence, it should be presented openly in court. "Mr President, the military publicly stated over six weeks ago that investigations had been concluded. If that is the case, justice must now move forward. "We respectfully request that the trials commence immediately in an open court of law visible to all Nigerians. We do not want secret proceedings or trial by media. If our husbands are guilty, let it be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. But if they are innocent, justice demands that they be set free. "Justice must not only be done-it must be seen to be done." She also appealed to the public and civil society to pay close attention to the matter. "We also appeal to the Nigerian public, civil society organisations, religious leaders, the legal community, the international community, human rights commissions and activists, and the media to pay close attention to this matter. "Justice thrives in the light of public scrutiny. We urge all Nigerians who believe in fairness, the rule of law, and the sanctity of our Constitution to follow this case closely and lend their voices in defence of due process. "We are not asking for favours or shortcuts. We are asking for our constitutional rights, the truth, and the safe return of our husbands. "If there is evidence, bring them before a court of law. If there is none, let them go free. "We appeal to Mr President to do what is just and allow the truth to be seen. We also appeal to the Nigerian military to remember its oath and its humanity. "History and posterity will remember the decisions taken at this moment," she said. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Bashir said they have not received any support from the Federal Government as was promised. "We have not been given any support from the Federal Government as was promised. Nobody has reached out to us. We want Nigerians to know this," she said. Source: https://thenationonlineng.net/families-of-detained-officers-accused-of-coup-plotting-call-for-justice/