Families of some military officers currently detained over an alleged plot to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu have appealed to the president and the Nigerian military authorities to allow them see their relatives and ensure they are tried openly and fairly, according to a report by Premium Times.
The families made the appeal during a press conference in Abuja, where they stated that the officers have spent more than 160 days in detention.
The families alleged that the accused soldiers have been subjected to pressure and negative media publicity even before any formal trial.
They also appealed to the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, to show compassion and assist in ensuring that justice is served in the matter.
According to the families, the Nigerian Constitution presumes every suspect innocent until proven guilty, stressing that the detained officers deserve a transparent and fair judicial process.
They therefore called on the authorities to commence a public court trial as soon as possible, rather than subjecting the suspects to a secret military proceeding.
Earlier, security agencies disclosed that about 40 individuals suspected of involvement in a coup plot were arrested.
Those detained reportedly include military personnel, a police officer, and some civilians, while weapons and operational vehicles allegedly prepared for the planned operation were also recovered.
DNH
