Human rights activist and politician Omoyele Sowore has called on the Nigerian government to allow families and lawyers access to soldiers arrested over an alleged coup plot.
In a video shared by Channels TV, speaking during a press briefing with relatives of the detained personnel, Sowore said the continued detention of the suspects without allowing them to see their families or legal representatives is unfair and unacceptable in a democratic society.
He highlighted the emotional impact the situation is having on families, pointing to a two-month-old child who has not seen his father since birth because the soldier has been in detention for about five months.
Sowore stressed that even if the accusations against the officers are true, they still deserve a fair, open, and transparent trial in court. He explained that being accused of planning a coup does not automatically mean someone is guilty, and the law requires that suspects be allowed to defend themselves.
He also noted that democratic systems around the world allow detainees to meet their lawyers so they can properly prepare for trial, while families are usually permitted to visit their loved ones.
Sowore therefore issued an ultimatum to the government of Bola Tinubu, demanding that the 120 detained personnel be allowed to see their families and lawyers.
In his words, “So we’re giving them an ultimatum to let these individuals that have been arrested, 120 of them, be allowed to visit with their families, allowed to see their lawyers.”