Families of military officers standing trial over an alleged coup plot have raised concerns over the health and welfare of their detained relatives, alleging that some of the officers are suffering from injuries, deteriorating eyesight and respiratory complications after spending several months in custody.
The relatives, who addressed journalists in Abuja on Friday, appealed to the Federal Government and military authorities to ensure transparency in the ongoing court-martial proceedings and to allow independent medical examinations of the accused officers.
Speaking on behalf of the families, Aisha Yusuf said the detained officers and their relatives had endured months of emotional trauma and uncertainty since the arrests, which she said took place about nine months ago.
Yusuf stressed that the families were not challenging the authority of the military or seeking to interfere with the judicial process, but were concerned about what they described as lack of openness, restricted access and alleged violations of the detainees’ rights.
“We are family members, wives and children of detained officers accused of a coup plot. We are not politicians. We are not anarchists. We are only law-abiding citizens compelled to speak out,” she said.
“We love our country. We respect the military and its laws. But we are deeply afraid for our loved ones. We are speaking now because we believe the truth is being suppressed.”
According to her, access to the detained officers has remained heavily restricted, with family members and lawyers allegedly allowed only one visit per week.
She further alleged that the officers were denied the presence of legal or family representatives during statement-taking, and had not been provided with complete medical reports despite visible signs of ill health.
“They have not been given full medical reports, even though some of them have visible injuries. Many are losing their eyesight and having lung issues due to their long stay in underground facilities with no ventilation,” Yusuf alleged.
The families also accused the military authorities of subjecting the officers to degrading treatment during court appearances, claiming that they were brought before the court-martial in handcuffs and leg restraints.
“They are being leg- and hand-chained in court-martial, in an open desecration of their human rights and dignity. These are officers who are being humiliated so brazenly and openly that one can only imagine what happens behind the scenes,” she said.
Yusuf said the families were not asking the public to presume the officers innocent of the allegations against them, adding that guilt or innocence remained a matter for the court to determine. She, however, insisted that the process must be fair, transparent and in line with the rule of law.
“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,” she added.
The families called on the military authorities to allow international human rights observers to attend the proceedings, open the trial to the media and the public, and permit independent medical practitioners to assess the health condition of the detainees.
They also urged the international community to monitor the case closely to ensure that justice is not only done but seen to be done.
Speaking on the health condition of the detainees, Shafa’atu Ali Agbo, wife of Lt. Col. M.A. Al-Makura, alleged that several of the accused officers were experiencing serious medical complications.
“Of course, it’s most of them who are seriously affected. In fact, even the Army recommended glasses for them to use,” she alleged.
Also speaking, Aisha Nana Usman, wife of Lt. Col. Sadiq Mohammed, alleged that the detained officers had been denied basic rights since their arrest.
“If the military had taken the right step right from the beginning, we wouldn’t have been here,” she said.
According to her, repeated requests by relatives to see or communicate with the detainees were initially denied.
“Their fundamental human rights were denied. Ours were also denied. We made several appeals for us to see them or even hear from them before they were charged. And it took them so long before they granted our request,” she stated.
Usman further alleged that the accused officers remained in handcuffs and leg restraints, including during feeding and court appearances.
“Up till now, all of them are still in cuffs. Their hands and legs are still in cuffs. I don’t know why they are being treated like they are not humans,” she said.
She appealed to the military authorities to remove the restraints and ensure humane treatment of the detainees, saying the accused officers deserved to be treated with dignity while their trial continued.
“These are officers who put their lives on the line to save the country. They deserve to be treated better and fairly,” she added.
Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, who attended the briefing, said he had advised the families against making comments that could prejudice the ongoing proceedings.
Adeyanju appealed to President Bola Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to intervene and ensure that the constitutional rights of the detained officers were protected.
“My own appeal goes directly to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Tinubu, that as the leader of the nation and father of the nation, he has a responsibility to ensure that no citizen of the country is put beneath or above the law,” he said.
He noted that even persons convicted of offences retain fundamental rights under Nigerian law, adding that the accused officers remained presumed innocent until proven guilty.
“These people are still presumed to be innocent under the law. The issues that the family have raised, Mr President should direct the authorities to look into them,” Adeyanju said.
He also called for independent medical attention for the detainees, suggesting that families should be allowed to engage doctors of their choice if necessary.
“On their health, the family has alleged that many of them have failing medical issues. They should allow proper medical doctors to attend to them.
“The family should even be accorded an opportunity of providing medical doctors, if it will assuage their feelings and encourage them to have faith in the system,” he added.
As of the time of filing this report, military authorities had yet to officially respond to the allegations.
Efforts to reach the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, were unsuccessful, as he neither answered calls nor responded to a message seeking clarification.
