Families of soldiers accused of involvement in an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government have called for due process, fair trial and greater transparency in the military proceedings.

Speaking in an interview with DCL English on Monday, A’isha Nana, whose husband is among the detained officers, said the situation had been difficult for the affected families.

Nana said while the allegations should be investigated and the law allowed to take its course, the accused soldiers must be treated humanely and given access to their lawyers and families.

“Due process of law has to be allowed to take its course. But while doing that, we have to remind the government and the military authorities that it is not right to torture them. It is not right to deny them access to family. It is not right to deny them access to lawyers,” she said.

She said the families received no formal communication from the military following the arrests and instead learnt about the allegations through media reports.

Nana also rejected claims that the accused officers had discussed the alleged plot with their wives, arguing that military personnel would not ordinarily disclose sensitive operational matters to their spouses.

She maintained that the allegations should be tested through evidence and a transparent judicial process, stressing that the accused remained innocent until proven guilty.

“They are still innocent until proven otherwise,” she said, urging the authorities to present their evidence and allow the appropriate court to determine the case.

Nana further expressed concern over alleged delays in charging the soldiers and restrictions on family members attending the proceedings. She said some families had also raised concerns about limited access to the accused officers by their lawyers and relatives.

“We believe we’re in a democratic era, and we want justice. Let the trial be free and fair and open. That’s our biggest concern,” she said.

She urged the authorities to facilitate the proceedings, ensure the accused have access to legal representation and family members, and allow the court to determine the merits of the allegations.