By Gabriel Ameh
“180 DAYS IN ISOLATION? Families of Alleged Coup Suspects Accuse Authorities of Secrecy, Rights Abuses and Denial of Justice”
Families of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have accused authorities of concealing critical facts surrounding the investigation and prosecution of their relatives, raising fresh concerns about transparency, due process, and human rights compliance.
Speaking during a press briefing on behalf of affected families, Aisha Yusuf, whose husband is among the detained officers, said relatives were forced to break their silence because they believed crucial details of the case were being deliberately withheld from the public.
“We are not politicians, activists, or enemies of the state,” Yusuf told journalists. “We are ordinary Nigerians seeking fairness, justice, and respect for the rule of law.”
According to the families, both relatives and legal representatives were allegedly denied access to the detained officers for more than 180 days after their arrest, a situation they described as a violation of fundamental rights and due process guarantees.
The families further claimed that several detainees developed serious health complications while in custody but were allegedly denied independent medical evaluations despite repeated requests.
They also alleged that the accused officers were denied access to lawyers and family members during the recording of statements and were subjected to degrading treatment throughout court martial proceedings.
The allegations add a new layer of controversy to the high-profile coup trial, as families demand greater transparency from military authorities and insist that the rights of the accused must be protected regardless of the allegations against them.
The authorities have yet to publicly respond to the claims.
