The families of military officers facing trial over an alleged coup plot have accused authorities of violating the rights of their loved ones and called for greater transparency in the ongoing court martial proceedings.
Speaking on behalf of the families at a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, Mrs Aisha Yusuf and Mrs Aisha Usman said they were compelled to speak out over what they described as unfair treatment of the detained officers.
The relatives, comprising wives, children and other family members of the accused officers, said they were not politicians or activists but law-abiding citizens concerned about the welfare and rights of their loved ones.
The families alleged that they and their lawyers were denied access to the detained officers for more than 180 days despite repeated appeals.
They also claimed that some of the officers had sustained injuries in detention and had not been provided with full medical reports.
The families further alleged that the accused officers were denied access to legal and family representatives during the taking of statements and were being subjected to degrading treatment, including appearing in court martial proceedings in leg and hand restraints.
“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,” the families said.
They called on military authorities to allow international human rights observers to attend the trial, make court proceedings accessible to the public and the media, and permit independent medical examinations of the detained officers.
The families also urged the international community to closely monitor the proceedings to ensure that justice is not only done but seen to be done.
They said they remained committed to pursuing their concerns through peaceful and lawful means, stressing their confidence in the rule of law.
The relatives called on the military to make available all relevant evidence in the case, insisting that transparency would strengthen public confidence in the judicial process.
Lending is voice, counsel to the families, Bar. Deji Adeyanju appealed to President Bola Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to ensure that justice and the rule of law prevailed in the handling of the matter.
“As the leader of the nation, the President has the responsibility to ensure that no citizen is placed above or beneath the law. His duty is to ensure that the right thing is done at all times,” he said.
He noted that Nigeria operates a democratic and constitutional system of government and not a military regime, stressing that the rights of citizens must be respected regardless of the allegations against them.
The lawyer argued that even convicted persons retain certain constitutional rights, citing judicial pronouncements that affirmed the protection of fundamental rights even after conviction.
“How much more people who are still presumed innocent under the law. Let us show these citizens some respect and ensure that their rights are protected,” he said.
Adeyanju urged the authorities to investigate the concerns raised by the families, particularly allegations relating to the health conditions of the detainees.
He called for proper medical attention for the officers and suggested that family members should be allowed to engage independent medical practitioners to examine them if necessary.
According to him, such measures would help restore public confidence in the justice system and reassure the families that due process is being followed.
“We are not saying whether the defendants are innocent or guilty. We are only saying they should be treated like human beings and accorded the rights guaranteed to them under the law,” he said.
The military authorities had yet to respond to the allegations at the time of filing this report.