Families Demand Fair Trial for Detained Military Officers

Families of detained military officers have expressed their distress and called for a fair trial and respect for human rights. They addressed the press in Abuja on Friday, with human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju urging the federal government to uphold the rule of law, emphasizing that every citizen deserves fair treatment regardless of allegations.

The families are not seeking to influence the trial's outcome but demand humane treatment and respect for constitutional rights. Aishatu Yusuf, speaking on behalf of the families, claimed that officers have been held for several months without access to legal representation and have developed serious health complications during detention.

She described the situation as degrading and inconsistent with the dignity of citizens and military personnel. The families questioned the closed-door nature of the trial and called for greater transparency, urging independent medical examinations for the detained officers and local and international human rights groups to monitor the case.