Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has criticised the Nigerian military over its handling of an alleged plot to overthrow the Federal Government, accusing it of misleading the public and failing to take responsibility for its earlier denial.
The criticism followed the military’s announcement on Monday that some officers would be arraigned before a military judicial panel over their alleged involvement in a coup plot.
The disclosure came more than three months after the military announced, in October 2025, that 16 officers had been arrested for acts of indiscipline and violations of service regulations.
At the time, the Defence Headquarters firmly denied reports linking the arrests to an alleged coup plot. It also dismissed claims that the cancellation of the 2025 Independence Day parade was connected to any attempt to overthrow the government, describing such reports as false, malicious, and capable of creating unnecessary tension and distrust among Nigerians.
Reacting to the development during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Falana said the shift in position suggested that Nigerians were deliberately misled.
“Yesterday, the military authorities ought to have apologised to Nigerians. People in authority must learn to take us seriously as a people,” Falana said.
He described the reversal of such a serious denial, without a public apology, as unacceptable.
“If you had made a statement three months ago that there was no coup plot and, in the course of your investigation, discovered that the matter went beyond indiscipline, you ought to have apologised to the Nigerian people,” he added.
According to the senior lawyer, openly admitting the earlier denial and apologising after confirming the allegations would have been a more honourable and responsible approach.
He, however, expressed hope that the military would still apologise to Nigerians.
Beyond the issue of public apology, Falana raised legal concerns over the handling of the detained officers. He argued that the officers cannot be tried by court-martial if the allegations indeed relate to a coup plot.
According to him, a court-martial would only be appropriate if the case involved acts of indiscipline within the armed forces.
Since the allegation borders on an attempt to overthrow the government, he said the officers could only be charged with treason or treasonable felony, offences that are triable only before a Federal or State High Court under Nigerian law.
Falana also condemned what he described as the denial of access to legal counsel for the detained officers. He insisted that they are entitled to meet with their lawyers, family members, and doctors, rights which he said have been unjustly withheld.
He further disclosed that up to 42 persons have been arrested in connection with the matter and urged the authorities to release without delay all those who have not been formally charged.
As of the time of filing this report, the Defence Headquarters has yet to respond to Falana’s comments.
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