Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has criticised the Nigerian military for failing to apologise to the public after initially denying reports of a coup plot, only to later confirm that an alleged attempt to overthrow the government was under investigation.
Falana made the remarks on Tuesday, January 27, while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily. He said the military owed Nigerians an apology for what he described as contradictory positions taken by the authorities.
“Yesterday, the military authorities ought to have apologised to Nigerians. People in authority must learn to take us seriously as a people,” Falana said.
On Monday, January 26, the military announced that some officers would face a military judicial panel over an alleged coup plot, more than three months after it arrested 16 officers for acts described at the time as indiscipline and violations of service regulations.
In October 2025, the military had dismissed claims that the cancellation of the 2025 Independence Day parade was linked to a coup plot, describing such reports as “false, malicious, and capable of creating unnecessary tension and distrust among Nigerians.”
Reacting to the reversal, Falana said the military authorities had misled 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 said.
He argued that changing such a serious position without a public apology was unacceptable, adding that acknowledging the error would have been a more honourable course of action. Falana expressed hope that the military would still issue an apology.
The senior advocate also questioned the military’s decision to subject the detained officers to a court martial. He argued that allegations involving a coup plot amount to treason or treasonable felony, offences which, under Nigerian law, are triable only before a Federal or State High Court.
Falana further condemned what he described as the denial of access to legal representation for the detained officers, insisting that they are entitled to meet with their lawyers, family members and medical personnel. He also disclosed that up to 42 people had been arrested in connection with the matter and called for the release of those who have not been formally charged.
