Renowned human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, has faulted the Nigerian military for failing to apologise to Nigerians after initially dismissing reports of a coup plot, only to later confirm the existence of an alleged plan to overthrow the government.
Falana made the criticism while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, where he expressed concern over what he described as the military’s dismissive attitude toward public accountability.
“Yesterday, the military authorities ought to have apologised to Nigerians. People in authority must learn to take us seriously as a people,” Falana said.
His remarks followed the military’s announcement on Monday that some officers would be subjected to a military judicial panel over the alleged coup plot—more than three months after the arrest of 16 officers for acts of indiscipline and violations of service regulations.
The military had earlier, in October 2025, denied any connection between the cancellation of the 2025 Independence Day parade and a coup plot, describing such reports at the time as “false, malicious, and capable of creating unnecessary tension and distrust among Nigerians.”
Reacting to the military’s latest position, Falana accused the authorities of deliberately misleading the public.
“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 maintained.
According to the senior advocate, reversing such a weighty public position without offering an apology was unacceptable. He argued that a public acknowledgment of error and an apology would have been the more honourable course of action, adding that he still hopes the military will apologise to Nigerians.
Falana also questioned the decision to subject the detained officers to a court martial, stressing that allegations bordering on a coup plot amount to treason or treasonable felony—offences that can only be tried before a Federal or State High Court.
He further condemned what he described as the denial of access to legal counsel for the detained officers, insisting that they are entitled to meet with their lawyers, family members, and medical doctors—rights he said have been withheld. Falana also disclosed that up to 42 persons have been arrested in connection with the matter and called for the immediate release of those who have not been formally indicted.
