Relatives claim prisoners held over alleged coup involvement are experiencing medical problems while in detention

Families of military officers facing trial for an alleged coup plot have expressed deep concern over the well-being of their detained relatives, citing reports of injuries, deteriorating eyesight, and respiratory issues after months in detention.

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These relatives, who addressed journalists in Abuja on Friday, are calling on the Federal Government and military authorities to ensure transparency in the ongoing court-martial proceedings and to allow independent medical examinations of the accused officers.

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Aisha Yusuf, speaking on behalf of the families, stated that the detained officers and their relatives have endured months of emotional trauma and uncertainty since their arrest about nine months ago.

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Yusuf emphasized that the families are not challenging the military's authority or seeking to interfere with the judicial process, but rather are concerned about the lack of transparency in the trial, which they believe is suppressing the truth.

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She explained, "We are family members, wives, and children of detained officers accused of a coup plot, and we are compelled to speak out because we believe the truth is being suppressed, and we are deeply afraid for our loved ones."

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According to Yusuf, access to the detained officers is heavily restricted, with family members and lawyers allowed only one visit per week, and the officers are denied the presence of legal or family representatives during statement-taking.

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Furthermore, Yusuf alleged that the officers have not been provided with complete medical reports, despite visible signs of ill health, including injuries, loss of eyesight, and lung issues due to their prolonged stay in underground facilities with no ventilation.

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The families also accused the military authorities of subjecting the officers to degrading treatment during court appearances, including being leg- and hand-chained in Court Martial, which they see as a desecration of their human rights and dignity.

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Yusuf argued that while the court will ultimately determine the guilt or innocence of the accused officers, the process must be transparent and fair, and she emphasized that the families are not claiming their relatives are innocent but rather that the process has not been fair and open.

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The families have called on military authorities to allow international human rights observers to attend the proceedings, to open the trial to the media and the public, and to permit independent medical practitioners to assess the health condition of the detainees.

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They have also urged the international community to closely monitor the case to ensure that justice is both done and seen to be done.

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Shafa’atu Ali Agbo, wife of Lt. Col. M.A. Al-Makura, alleged that a significant number of the accused officers are experiencing medical complications, with some even prescribed glasses by the army.

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Aisha Nana Usman, wife of Lt. Col. Sadiq Mohammed, claimed that the detained officers have been denied basic rights since their arrest and that repeated requests by relatives to see or communicate with the detainees were initially denied.

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Usman stated that the accused officers remain in handcuffs and leg restraints even during feeding and court appearances, which she believes is inhumane treatment.

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She appealed to military authorities to remove the restraints and ensure humane treatment of the detainees, emphasizing that these officers deserve to be treated better and fairly, given their service to the country.

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Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju, who attended the briefing, advised the families against making comments that could prejudice the ongoing proceedings and appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure the constitutional rights of the detained officers are protected.

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Adeyanju stressed that even persons convicted of offences retain fundamental rights under Nigerian law and that the accused officers remain innocent until proven guilty, emphasizing that the issues raised by the family should be looked into by the authorities.

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Adeyanju also called for independent medical attention for the detainees, suggesting that families should be permitted to engage doctors of their choice if necessary, to address the alleged failing medical issues of the detainees.

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The military authorities have yet to officially respond to the allegations, and efforts to reach Army Spokesman and Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, were unsuccessful.