‘Military Should Apologise For Saying There Was No Coup Against Tinubu’ – Falana

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has faulted the Nigerian military for its handling of the recent revelation that some officers are to be arraigned over an alleged plot to overthrow the government.

Naijaonpoint reports that Falana said the latest disclosure contradicts the military’s earlier stance and amounts to misleading the Nigerian public.

The senior advocate spoke on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, following the military’s announcement on Monday that some of its personnel would face a military judicial panel over alleged coup-related activities.

In October 2025, the Defence Headquarters had announced the arrest of 16 officers for alleged violations of service regulations, but denied reports of a coup plot, insisting that the cancellation of the 2025 Independence Day parade was unrelated to any such allegations.

Falana said, “The military authorities ought to have apologised to Nigerians. People in authority must learn to take us seriously as a people.”

He criticised the military for what he described as a lack of transparency and accountability in its communication with 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 added.

Falana also faulted plans to try the suspects through court martial, arguing that the charges, if related to treason, fall under the jurisdiction of civil courts.

He added, “A court martial would have been sufficient if it was a case of indiscipline. But if it’s a coup plot, then only a Federal or State High Court has jurisdiction over offences like treason or treasonable felony.”

He urged the military to follow due process and ensure the rights of the accused officers are protected.