The wives and family members of military officers detained over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government have publicly appealed to the president and the Nigerian military to release the suspects, grant them access to their families, and ensure they receive fair and open trials.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the families said the officers — who have now spent more than 160 days in detention — have been subjected to what they described as a deeply traumatic ordeal, compounded by alleged intimidation and a shifting official narrative.
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“We have been forced to watch helplessly as the military continues to present unfounded narratives to an unsuspecting public, subjecting our spouses to trial by media. While we are consumed by pain, we are also subjected to aggression and intimidation by the very men in uniform who swore an oath to protect us,” the families said in a joint statement. Although the statement was not signed, PREMIUM TIMES confirmed its authenticity and it was shared with this newspaper by a son of one of the detained officers.
Appeal to the President and First Lady
Addressing President Tinubu directly, the families invoked his roles as a father and grandfather and appealed to First Lady Remi Tinubu, as a mother, grandmother, and pastor, to look upon their plight with compassion.
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“We speak today not with anger, but with the heavy hearts of wives and mothers. We appeal to you, Mr President, GCFR, a father and grandfather, and to you, Her Excellency the First Lady, a mother, grandmother, and revered pastor, as leaders of this nation at this moment in time, to please look upon our situation with compassion, wisdom, courage, and justice. We beseech you to examine and be receptive to all the facts and arguments of this highly sensitive case with an open mind,” the statement read.
The families demanded that the detained officers be treated as innocent until proven guilty, as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution.
“The allegations against them must not be used as a tool or to make them scapegoats. We want due process, nothing more and nothing less.”
Appeal to the Military
Turning to the Nigerian military, the families appealed to officers and soldiers to remember their humanity.
“We are not your enemies. We are mothers, wives, and sisters. We do not understand how the same institution they served has turned against them. We do not understand how the men meant to defend us have become the source of our tears. If you have wives and children at home, if you know what it means to long for a loved one’s embrace, we beg you, look into your hearts. Grant us access to our husbands. Let us know they are alive. Let us know they have not been forgotten by the very nation they served at the frontlines.”
Shifting Narrative, Shrinking Figures
The families also highlighted what they said were inconsistencies in the reported accounts of the alleged conspiracy.
“The initial narrative reported by the media is that N12 billion was found in the account of one of the officers. Now, the story has changed completely. The figure is now said to be N835 million, and it is no longer found in the officer’s account but in a company account. In other words, the narrative did not just change slightly — the figures reduced by over 93 per cent. What was presented as a massive N12 billion discovery has now become less than seven per cent of that original figure, and it is no longer even attributed to any officer.”
The families also questioned the military’s narrative that the soldiers were initially detained for indiscipline before it was announced that they conspired to commit a coup d’état.
“We respectfully ask: What changed? What new evidence emerged to justify such a grave escalation? If there is evidence, show it. If there is a case, prove it.”
Demand for Open Trial
With investigations declared complete more than six weeks ago, the families demanded that trials begin immediately in an open court of law.
“We do not want secret military proceedings. We do not want narratives fed to the press. We want a public court. The Constitution guarantees a fair hearing. We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for exactly what the law provides.”
The statement continued: “Justice must not only be done, but it must be seen to be done. A secret trial is no trial at all. A hidden proceeding is not justice — it is a continuation of the very pain we have endured for over 160 days.”
The families made a final plea to every soldier: “You wear the uniform with pride. You are trained to protect. We are not asking you to betray your institution. We are asking you to remember your humanity. These men are not faceless suspects. They are someone’s father. Someone’s husband. Someone’s entire world. If the situation were reversed, would you not want the same transparency and openness we now beg for? Open the gates. Grant us access. Let us see our husbands. Let us hold their hands. Let us know they are still alive.”
“We are not asking for favours. We are asking for our constitutional rights. We are asking for the truth. We are asking for our husbands,” the statement ended, with a direct appeal to history: “We appeal to you, Mr President, to do what is just. Open the doors of the court. Let the world see. And to the military, we appeal to you as fellow Nigerians: Remember your oath. Remember your humanity. Let us see our husbands, for history and posterity will always remember your actions.”
Background: The Alleged Plot
The alleged plot to overthrow President Tinubu’s government ran deeper than previously known, with security agencies uncovering what they describe as a wide-ranging conspiracy involving serving military officers, a police officer, and several civilians.
Earlier reports indicated that the alleged conspirators had planned to assassinate President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and service chiefs. PREMIUM TIMES can now report that the targets also included the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; former Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director-General of the State Security Service (DG-SSS), Adeola Ajayi.
According to investigators, the plot involved deploying officers to seize control of key strategic locations, including the Presidential Villa, the Niger Barracks, the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) Complex, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Weapons and Assets Recovered
Following the arrest of suspects, investigators recovered two gun trucks, anti-aircraft guns, PKT guns, RPG bombs, AK-47 rifles, ammunition, and tactical gear from Lieutenant Colonel A.A. Hayatu, attached to the 130 Battalion Main. Also seized were four Toyota Hilux trucks, one Toyota Prado SUV, two Toyota saloon cars, and 32 Volkswagen Golf vehicles allegedly procured for covert operations.
“All recovered exhibits are in the custody of the DIA,” a source told PREMIUM TIMES, adding that “recovered funds have been lodged into the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police account domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
READ ALSO: EXCLUSIVE: The two persons accused of bankrolling alleged coup plot to overthrow Tinubu
Where the Case Stands
The Defence Headquarters announced last month that investigations had been completed and forwarded to the “appropriate superior authority in line with extant regulations.” The military described the conduct of the implicated officers as “inconsistent with the ethics, values, and professional standards required of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported that 40 suspects are in detention, including senior military officers across the armed forces, a police officer, and civilians allegedly involved in reconnaissance, funding, and propaganda operations. The suspects were captured in a covert intelligence operation coordinated by the Army Headquarters and the State Security Service (SSS).
An unspecified number of civilians remain in custody and are being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the SSS for alleged roles in financing, logistics, and coordination. Others have been granted bail.
![The Speaker of the 10th Assembly, Tajudeen Abbas. [PHOTO CREDIT: House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria]](https://i0.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2024/06/426459548_843690957790254_2608299855068340132_n.jpg?fit=1280%2C912&ssl=1)
