Wives of detained military officers facing alleged coup-related charges have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure fairness and transparency in the ongoing military trial, warning against the conviction of suspects without credible evidence.

The plea was contained in a letter addressed to the President on Friday and titled, “A Humble Appeal for Fairness, Transparency, and Justice in the Ongoing Military Trial.”

The correspondence from spouses of the detained officers was exclusively obtained by The PUNCH.

The signatories are Shafa’atu Ali Agbo, Fatima Dauda, Josephine Enemona, Nana Aisha, Zara Abba, Helen Sunday, Khadija Aminu, Aisha Abubakar, Aisha Yusuf, Hauwa’u Aliyu, Firdausi Ibrahim and Zuzu Igbaseimokumo.

In the letter, the women acknowledged Tinubu’s approval for the commencement of the military trial, describing it as “an important step toward accountability, clarity, and the pursuit of justice.”

They, however, expressed fears that the process could be tainted by bias, coercion and institutional prejudice.

“As citizens, we understand the importance of discipline within the armed forces and the sensitive responsibility placed upon the military in safeguarding national security.

“We also recognise that allegations relating to mutiny, coup plotting, or acts capable of undermining military authority are grave matters that must never be treated lightly.

“However, it is precisely because of the seriousness of these allegations that the process through which justice is pursued must itself remain just, transparent, impartial, and free from every appearance of prejudice,” the letter read.

The wives recalled past controversial military trials in Nigeria, saying some later became subjects of “national reflection and regret.”

It added, “From past allegations of ‘phantom coups’ to disputed dismissals and prolonged detentions of officers, many Nigerians have witnessed instances where prosecution appeared, in the eyes of the public, to drift dangerously toward persecution.”

The women also raised concerns over the prolonged detention of the accused officers and allegations of inhumane treatment.

According to them, reports suggesting that confessional statements may have been obtained under coercion had further heightened public anxiety over the integrity of the proceedings.

“The prolonged detention of the accused officers, the reports of inhumane treatment, and concerns that the case relies heavily on statements allegedly obtained under coercion and severe pressure have raised serious questions in the minds of many Nigerians,” the letter added.

They argued that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done, stressing that the credibility of the trial would depend on the fairness of the process and the independence of the tribunal.

“No individual should be condemned without credible and independently verifiable evidence.

“No confession extracted through fear, torture, or inhumane treatment should become the foundation upon which lives, careers, and families are destroyed. Justice loses its moral authority the moment it appears predetermined,” they wrote.

The wives urged Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief, to ensure that the proceedings do not become “another painful chapter” in Nigeria’s history.

“We pray that under your leadership, Nigeria will continue to move toward a future where no citizen fears persecution disguised as prosecution, and where the law remains stronger than suspicion, fear, or institutional pressure,” the letter concluded.

The arrest of the indicted officers was first announced on October 4, 2025, by the then Director of Defence Information, Brig Gen Tukur Gusau, who disclosed that 16 officers were taken into custody for alleged breaches of military regulations and acts of indiscipline.

However, an interim investigation later suggested the existence of a clandestine network of officers allegedly coordinated by a senior Army officer, which had begun preliminary planning for a coup.

According to the report, the alleged plot involved surveillance of key national assets, including the Presidential Villa, Armed Forces Complex, Niger Barracks in Abuja and major international airports, with October 25, 2025, scheduled as the planned date for the operation.

Those reportedly in custody include Brig Gen M. A. Sadiq, Col M. A. Ma’aji, Lt Col S. Bappah, Lt Col A. A. Hayatu, Lt Col P. Dangnap, Lt Col M. Almakura, Maj A. J. Ibrahim, Maj M. M. Jiddah, Maj M. A. Usman, Maj D. Yusuf, Capt I. Bello, Capt A. A. Yusuf, Lt S. S. Felix, Lt Cdr D. B. Abdullahi, Sqn Ldr S. B. Adamu and Maj I. Dauda.

The alleged plot, according to findings, targeted senior government officials, including President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The appeal comes barely two weeks after a Federal High Court in Abuja admitted as exhibits the extra-judicial statements of six persons standing trial over an alleged plot to overthrow the Tinubu government, as the court commenced a trial-within-trial to determine whether the statements were voluntarily made.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik admitted the statements and video recordings during proceedings aimed at resolving objections raised by the defendants over the admissibility of the evidence.

The defendants had earlier challenged the statements, alleging that they were obtained through coercion, torture, inducement and in violation of provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and the Anti-Torture Act.

The Federal Government is prosecuting retired Maj-Gen Mohammed Ibrahim Gana; retired Navy Capt Erasmus Ochegobia Victor; police inspector Ahmed Ibrahim; Presidential Villa electrician Umoru Zekeri; Bukar Kashim Goni; and a Zaria-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abdulkadir Sani, on charges bordering on treason, terrorism and conspiracy to stage a coup.

At the previous proceedings, the court played a video recording in which Sani allegedly told investigators that he warned the suspected plotters that the coup plan “would fail” and that members of the group would eventually betray themselves.

Following objections by defence lawyers to the admissibility of the defendants’ statements, Justice Abdulmalik ordered a joint trial-within-trial to determine whether the statements were voluntarily made.

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Nigeria has intensified nationwide surveillance and emergency preparedness measures against Ebola Virus Disease following the growing outbreak in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Saturday.

In a fresh public health advisory issued by the Director-General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, on Sunday, the agency said Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed case linked to the ongoing regional outbreak but warned that the risk of importation remains high because of international travel, population movement and the scale of transmission in affected East African countries.

The agency said its latest risk assessment identified border communities, major transport hubs and international points of entry as high-risk areas requiring enhanced monitoring.

“This assessment estimated the risk of Ebola importation into Nigeria as high due to the ongoing transmission in the DRC and Uganda, international travel and population movement, uncertainty regarding the full magnitude of the outbreak, and the potential for delayed recognition because symptoms may overlap with endemic diseases such as malaria and Lassa fever,” the advisory stated.

The NCDC said the National Emergency Operations Centre has been placed on alert mode, while the National Incident Management System has been activated with clear reporting and escalation pathways to coordinate response activities nationwide.

According to the agency, epidemiologists and Rapid Response Teams have also been placed on standby for possible deployment to any state if required.

The public health agency disclosed that it is strengthening coordination with state Ministries of Health, Port Health Services and other relevant government agencies as part of efforts to improve national readiness.

The agency further stated that surveillance and epidemic intelligence activities have been intensified across the country, including enhanced monitoring of unusual public health events, rumours and alerts to ensure early detection of suspected cases.

“Enhanced surveillance activities are also ongoing at points of entry and border communities,” it added.

As part of infection prevention efforts, the NCDC said Ebola preparedness tools and checklists have been distributed to healthcare facilities nationwide, while refresher trainings are ongoing for health workers on triage systems, infection prevention protocols and early identification of suspected viral haemorrhagic fever cases.

The agency said states have also been advised to designate isolation and treatment centres, assess bed capacity, improve logistics systems and ensure availability of emergency medical supplies.

It noted that plans are underway to preposition critical response materials such as personal protective equipment, body bags, laboratory consumables and other emergency supplies in strategic locations across the country.

On laboratory preparedness, the NCDC said Nigeria currently maintains testing capability in states with international ports of entry and within the national public health laboratory network, adding that surge capacity for Ebola testing remains available if necessary.

The agency also warned against misinformation, saying it has intensified public awareness campaigns and developed “Ebola Myths and Facts” materials to counter false claims circulating online.

Ebola Virus Disease is a severe and often fatal illness transmitted through direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids, secretions or contaminated materials.

Symptoms include fever, weakness, headache and muscle pain. Health experts say the disease does not spread through the air.

Nigeria’s latest alert revives memories of the country’s successful containment of Ebola in 2014 after an infected Liberian-American diplomat, Patrick Sawyer, arrived in Lagos from Liberia.

The outbreak led to 20 confirmed cases and eight deaths before health authorities succeeded in stopping further transmission through aggressive contact tracing, isolation measures and public awareness campaigns.

Nigeria’s response at the time was widely praised by the World Health Organisation and has since been regarded as one of Africa’s most effective epidemic containment efforts.

The current regional concern follows renewed Ebola outbreaks in parts of Central and East Africa, particularly in Uganda and the DRC, where health authorities continue to battle recurring viral haemorrhagic fever outbreaks amid cross-border movement and fragile health systems.

Public health experts have repeatedly warned that increased global travel and porous borders continue to pose significant risks for countries across Africa, including Nigeria, despite improved disease surveillance systems established after the COVID-19 pandemic and previous outbreaks of Ebola, monkeypox and Lassa fever.