Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called on the Nigerian military to apologise to Nigerians for earlier denying reports of an alleged coup plot, only for the Defence Headquarters to later confirm the existence of such a plot and announce that some officers will face trial before a military judicial panel.
Falana made the remarks on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
In October 2025, the military arrested about 16 officers for alleged acts of indiscipline and violations of service regulations.
At that time, the military denied links between the arrests and any attempt to topple the government, describing claims of a coup plot as false and malicious and saying they could cause unnecessary tension in the country.
More than three months later, on Monday, the Defence Headquarters announced that some officers would be arraigned before a military judicial panel for their alleged roles in a plot to overthrow the government.
Falana said the reversal in the military’s position suggested that Nigerians were misled and that authorities should formally acknowledge and apologise for the earlier denial.
Falana questioned the military’s initial denial and absence of an apology, arguing that a public acknowledgment of the earlier position followed by a formal apology would have reflected greater accountability.
He described the lack of an apology as unacceptable given the seriousness of the matter. “Yesterday, the military authorities ought to have apologised to Nigerians. People in authority must learn to take us seriously as a people,” he said.
Falana also raised concerns about the planned court martial for the detained officers, saying that charges related to an alleged coup plot should rightly be tried as treason or treasonable felony, which are offences triable only before a Federal or State High Court, not a military tribunal.
He added that court martial would only be appropriate for internal disciplinary matters.
The senior lawyer further condemned restrictions on access to legal counsel for the detained officers. He said they are constitutionally entitled to meet with their lawyers, family members and medical professionals, rights he claimed have been denied.
Falana noted that up to 42 individuals have been arrested in connection with the matter and urged that those not formally indicted be released immediately.
Falana said: “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’s comments underscore ongoing concerns about transparency and accountability in the handling of security matters in Nigeria. His remarks come as public trust in institutions remains sensitive to how serious allegations, including alleged threats to democratic governance, are communicated and addressed.
The lawyer’s insistence on due process for the accused officers highlights broader discussions on civil liberties and the rule of law in high-profile national security cases.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana’s call for the Nigerian military to apologise for reversing its earlier denial of an alleged coup plot reflects growing demands for institutional accountability and respect for legal rights.
The unfolding process and public reaction to the military’s handling of the matter may influence perceptions of civil-military relations and governance standards in Nigeria.
