Relatives and sympathisers of military officers currently facing trial over an alleged coup plot against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday held a peaceful demonstration at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja, calling for an open trial and the release of the detained personnel.
The protesters gathered at the ministry’s gate, singing solidarity songs and carrying placards with messages such as “Tinubu Release Our Heroes,” “Lt Col C Chima 419 Witness,” and “AGF, Stop the Kangaroo Court Martial Now.” Security operatives, including personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, stopped them from entering the premises and confined the gathering to the entrance area.
The protest follows increasing public concern over the handling of the alleged coup case, especially after journalists were reportedly denied access to cover court-martial proceedings involving some of the accused officers last week.
Speaking to journalists during the protest, the group’s leader, Justice Isimili, said many participants were family members of the detained officers who travelled from various parts of the country.
“Many of the people who turned out today are relatives of our heroes. Some of them came from Jos, Kano, and Sokoto to protest the continued detention of the alleged coup suspects who are our fathers, uncles, and brothers,” he said.
“All we are asking is for the President, who is our father, to temper justice with mercy. We want him to come to our aid. Many of us have not been able to rest or do anything because of our loved ones who are still being held.”
He also criticised what he described as a lack of transparency in the military proceedings.
“We want an open trial instead of what they are doing in the name of court martial, where family members, journalists, and the public are denied access to the court proceedings. All we are interested in is their freedom,” he added.
Another protester, Abdullahi Kale, who said he travelled from Sokoto, alleged that the arrests were being interpreted as discriminatory against northern military officers.
“No freedom, no second term. If the President and the AGF fail to release them, we will mobilise the north against Tinubu’s re-election,” he threatened.
A female demonstrator, Habibat Muhammad, who attended with her one-year-old child, Abba, also appealed for mercy on behalf of the detainees’ families.
Speaking in Hausa, she said life had become increasingly difficult since the officers were arrested about eight months ago from their homes and military formations.
In response, a director at the ministry, who declined to be named, urged the protesters to remain orderly and follow due process.
She said the ministry had not received any official correspondence regarding their demands.
“This is what we told them. They should go back and put their house in order before coming back,” she said.
“When you return, let only two persons come with your letter. But if you insist on coming as a group like you did today, it will be misrepresented to mean another thing.”
When asked to identify herself, she declined, saying only, “On this issue, I can’t give a name. I am just a director in the ministry. What I have only come to offer them is an explanation, which has been done. That is all,” she stated.
The demonstration adds to a series of earlier protests by families of the detained officers demanding either their release or a transparent and public trial process.
The controversy around the case intensified two weeks ago when journalists were barred from covering bail proceedings for six of the suspects at the Federal High Court in Abuja, reportedly on the orders of court officials backed by operatives of the Department of State Services.
The accused officers are facing charges including treason, terrorism, money laundering, and failure to disclose information.
While some serving officers are being tried by a court-martial in Abuja, others are facing prosecution in civilian courts.
Authorities have previously confirmed the arrest of dozens of suspects, including serving and retired military personnel as well as civilians, over the alleged coup plot.
Families of the detained officers maintain that their demands remain unchanged: access to their relatives and a fully transparent trial in line with constitutional provisions.
