by Jane Okeke
Family members of military officers facing trial over an alleged coup plot have called on President Bola Tinubu and military authorities to ensure that the rights of the detained officers are protected and respected.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju urged the Federal Government to uphold the rule of law, stressing that every citizen deserves fair treatment regardless of the allegations against them.
Adeyanju said the families were not asking the authorities to determine the outcome of the ongoing trial but were demanding humane treatment and respect for the constitutional rights of the accused officers.
He appealed to President Tinubu to direct relevant authorities to investigate allegations of poor detention conditions, restricted access to medical care and other concerns raised by the families.
The lawyer argued that even convicted persons retain fundamental rights under the law, noting that the detained officers are still presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Speaking on behalf of the families, Aishatu Yusuf alleged that the officers were held for several months without access to relatives or lawyers and claimed that some developed serious health complications while in detention.
She further alleged that the accused officers are still being brought to court in handcuffs and leg restraints, describing the situation as degrading and inconsistent with their dignity as citizens and military personnel.
The families also questioned why the trial is being conducted behind closed doors and called for greater transparency in the proceedings.
They appealed for independent medical examinations for the detained officers and urged local and international human rights groups to closely monitor the case.
The families maintained that they are not seeking special treatment but want justice to be seen to be done, insisting that the accused officers deserve a fair, transparent and humane legal process.
