Falana: Alleged Coup Plotters Cannot Face Court-Martial – Must Be Tried in Civilian Courts Under Democracy

 

The recent statements by renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, have sparked significant discussion regarding the trial of military officers implicated in an alleged coup plot against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration.

Falana has firmly argued that the accused soldiers cannot be tried by court-martial under Nigeria's current democratic framework. He emphasized that attempting to overthrow an elected civilian government constitutes treason or treasonable felony—offenses explicitly defined under Nigerian law and falling exclusively within the jurisdiction of civilian courts, such as the Federal High Court or State High Courts.