Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has criticised the Nigerian military for failing to apologise to the public after initially denying reports of a coup plot, only to later confirm the alleged plan to overthrow the government.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Falana said, “Yesterday, the military authorities ought to have apologised to Nigerians. People in authority must learn to take us seriously as a people.”
The military had on Monday revealed that some officers would face a military judicial panel over the purported coup plot, more than three months after arresting 16 officers over acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations.
In October 2025, the military dismissed claims that the cancellation of the 2025 Independence Day parade was connected to a coup plot, calling such reports “false, malicious, and capable of creating unnecessary tension and distrust among Nigerians.”
Reacting to the military’s latest position, Falana said the authorities had “deliberately misled the public.”
He added, “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.”
Falana argued that retracting such a significant statement without an apology was unacceptable, noting that a public acknowledgement and apology would have been more honourable.
He expressed hope that the military would still offer one.
The senior advocate also questioned the plan to try the detained officers by court martial, pointing out that since the allegations concern a coup plot, the officers should be charged with treason or treasonable felony, offences only triable before a Federal or State High Court.
Falana further condemned the reported denial of legal counsel to the detained officers, emphasising their right to meet with lawyers, family members, and doctors, rights he claims have been withheld.
He also highlighted that up to 42 people have been arrested and called for the release of those who have not been formally indicted.
