Coup trial: Detained officers’ wives urge Tinubu to ensure fair process

Wives of military officers currently detained over alleged coup-related offences have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to guarantee fairness, transparency, and justice in the ongoing military trial, cautioning against convictions without credible evidence.

In a letter dated Friday and titled “A Humble Appeal for Fairness, Transparency, and Justice in the Ongoing Military Trial,” the women acknowledged the President’s approval for the trial, describing it as a necessary step toward accountability. However, they warned that the process could be undermined by bias, coercion, and institutional prejudice.

The letter, signed by several spouses of the detained officers, stressed that while allegations such as mutiny and coup plotting are serious, the integrity of the judicial process must not be compromised.

They expressed concern over reports of prolonged detention, alleged inhumane treatment, and claims that some confessional statements may have been obtained under pressure. According to them, such developments have raised doubts about the credibility of the proceedings.

The women also referenced past controversial military trials in Nigeria, noting that some were later viewed with regret, with accusations that prosecution in certain cases appeared to drift into persecution.

Insisting that justice must be both done and seen to be done, they urged that no individual should be convicted without independently verifiable evidence. They further argued that confessions obtained through fear or coercion should not be used as the basis for judgment.

The appeal called on the President, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief, to ensure the trial does not become another troubling episode in the country’s history, but rather a demonstration of fairness and the rule of law.

The detained officers were first arrested in October 2025 following allegations of indiscipline and involvement in a coup plot. Subsequent investigations reportedly uncovered a network of officers accused of planning an operation targeting key national assets and senior government officials.

Meanwhile, proceedings are also ongoing at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Justice Joyce Abdulmalik is presiding over a related case involving several defendants charged with treason, terrorism, and conspiracy. The court has admitted certain statements and video evidence but is conducting a trial-within-trial to determine whether the confessions were made voluntarily after the defence alleged coercion.

The case continues as both legal and public scrutiny intensifies over the handling of the high-profile allegations.