Wives of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure fairness and transparency in the ongoing military trial, warning against convictions without credible evidence.
The women made the appeal in a letter titled, “A Humble Appeal for Fairness, Transparency, and Justice in the Ongoing Military Coup Trial.”
In the correspondence, the spouses acknowledged Tinubu’s approval for the commencement of the military proceedings but expressed fears that the process could be influenced by bias, coercion and institutional pressure.
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They said allegations relating to mutiny and coup plotting were serious matters that deserved proper investigation, but stressed that justice must be pursued through a transparent and impartial process.
“As citizens, we understand the importance of discipline within the armed forces and the responsibility placed upon the military in safeguarding national security,” the letter stated.
“However, because of the seriousness of these allegations, the process through which justice is pursued must itself remain just and free from prejudice.”
The women also raised concerns over reports of prolonged detention and alleged inhumane treatment of some of the accused officers.
According to them, concerns that confessional statements may have been obtained under pressure had heightened public anxiety over the credibility of the proceedings.
They insisted that no individual should be condemned without independently verifiable evidence.
The appeal comes months after the military authorities announced the arrest of several officers over alleged breaches of military regulations and an alleged plot to overthrow the Tinubu administration.
Initial disclosures were made in October 2025 by former Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, who confirmed the detention of 16 officers.
Subsequent investigations reportedly uncovered an alleged network coordinated by a senior army officer, with claims that strategic national assets, including the Presidential Villa and key military facilities, were placed under surveillance.
Security findings also alleged that October 25, 2025, had been fixed as the proposed date for the operation.
Several senior officers are currently being detained in connection with the investigation.
The detained officers’ wives recalled previous controversial military Coup trials in Nigeria and warned against what they described as “persecution disguised as prosecution.”
The development also comes shortly after proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Justice Joyce Abdulmalik admitted extra-judicial statements and video evidence involving six defendants standing trial over alleged treason and terrorism-related offences linked to the coup investigation.
The defendants had challenged the admissibility of the statements, alleging that they were obtained through coercion, torture and inducement.
The court subsequently ordered a trial-within-trial to determine whether the statements were voluntarily made.
Analysts say the case remains one of the most closely watched security-related prosecutions under the Tinubu administration because of its implications for national stability, military discipline and public confidence in the justice system.
