Wives and relatives of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to grant them access to their husbands and ensure they are either released or brought before a court of law.

The appeal was made during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, where the families said the officers had been held for more than 160 days without trial or contact with their relatives.

About 20 wives, accompanied by their children, including a two-month-old baby, attended the briefing alongside human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju and activist Omoyele Sowore.

Speaking on behalf of the families, Memuna Bashiru said the prolonged detention had plunged their households into fear and uncertainty.

“We stand before you as wives, mothers, and relatives whose husbands have been in detention for over 160 days without being brought before an open court of law,” she said.

The families urged Tinubu and the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, to intervene, insisting they were not seeking favours but asking that their husbands’ constitutional rights be respected.

They also called on military authorities to allow them to see their husbands and confirm their safety.

Human rights lawyer Adeyanju said denying the officers access to their families and legal representation violated fundamental rights guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights laws.

Sowore also demanded transparency, stressing that even if the allegations were true, the officers deserved a fair and open trial.

The officers were arrested in October 2025 after the military announced the discovery of an alleged plot to overthrow the government and target senior officials, including President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

However, the families insist that the government must either present evidence in court or release the officers, saying justice must be done openly and in accordance with the law.