Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has criticised the Nigerian military for failing to apologise to Nigerians after recently acknowledging an alleged plot by some officers to overthrow the government, months after initially denying such claims.
Gatekeepers News reports that the military had announced on Monday that some officers would be arraigned before a military judicial panel over an alleged coup plot. This came more than three months after it stated in October 2025 that 16 officers were arrested for acts of indiscipline and violations of service regulations.
At the time, the military denied reports linking the cancellation of the 2025 Independence Day parade to a coup plot, describing the claims as false, malicious and capable of causing unnecessary tension and distrust among Nigerians.
However, reacting to the latest development, Falana said the new admission suggests that the authorities deliberately misled the public.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Falana said the military owed Nigerians an apology for its earlier denial.
“Yesterday, the military authorities ought to have apologised to Nigerians. People in authority must learn to take us seriously as a people,” Falana said.
He added that reversing such a serious position without an apology was unacceptable.
“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 said.
According to the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, acknowledging the earlier denial and offering an apology after confirming the allegations would have been a more honourable approach. He expressed hope that the military would still issue a public apology.
Falana also argued that the detained officers should not be tried by a court martial, noting that such a process would only be appropriate if the issue involved mere indiscipline.
He said that since the case involves an alleged coup plot, the officers could only be charged with treason or treasonable felony, offences that are triable exclusively before a Federal or State High Court.
The human rights lawyer further condemned the denial of access to legal counsel for the detained officers, insisting that they are entitled to meet with their lawyers, family members and medical doctors.
Falana added that as many as 42 individuals have been arrested in connection with the matter, urging authorities to release those who have not been formally indicted without further delay.
