The wife and four children of Nigerian Army Corporal Momoh Audu have told a court martial that they were arrested and detained in place of the soldier after security operatives failed to find him during a late-night search of their home.
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Fatima Sadi Audu and her son, Suleiman, gave the accounts while testifying in the ongoing trial connected to an alleged plot involving military officers and civilians to overthrow President Bola Tinubu.
Before giving evidence, Fatima affirmed that she would tell the truth, while Warrant Officer Aliyu undertook to interpret her testimony between Hausa and English.
Fatima told the court that she was at home with her children in October 2025 when security operatives arrived at their residence late at night and knocked heavily on the door.
“I can remember what happened. We were in the room with my kids. We heard that someone knocked. The person knocked hard,” she testified.
According to her, the operatives told her that they were searching for her husband, Corporal Momoh Audu. She said the officers initially refused to believe her explanation that he was not at home and accused her of hiding him in one of the rooms.
“They searched and did not find him,” she said.
Fatima said the operatives subsequently went outside as though they were making a telephone call before returning and ordering her to bring out her children.
She identified the children as Amina, Mohammed, Abdullahi and Suleiman.
“They said that there is one ‘oga’ at the roadside. We were all picked in a Hilux, then were taken to Military Police,” she testified.
Fatima said she asked the officers why she and her children were being arrested but was told that the authorities were looking for her husband.
According to her, the family was taken to the Military Police guardroom, where they were introduced to the Military Police commander.
She said the commander informed her that she and her children would be detained in separate rooms.
Fatima testified that she asked what offence she and the children had committed but was told that the commander did not know why they had been brought to the facility and that the authorities were searching for her husband.
“I asked what I did. He said he did not know, that they were looking for my husband,” she told the court.
According to her, the family remained at the facility until about 3am. She said that when day broke, she asked the Provost Commander why the authorities wanted to arrest her husband.
“When daybreak came, I asked the Provost Commander what my husband did. He said he wasn’t aware. He said that instruction came that we should be arrested,” Fatima testified.
She alleged that she and her children subsequently spent four days in custody without food or water.
“We were there four days without food,” she said.
Fatima told the court that the family’s neighbours became concerned after noticing that their home had remained locked and learning that they had been taken away.
“The neighbours inquired what happened to me. One of them saw that our doors were locked and said he saw when we were moved,” she testified.
She said the family repeatedly complained of hunger and lack of water but received nothing during the initial period of their detention.
“When daybreak came, we told them that we were hungry. About 2pm, no food, no water for four days,” she said.
According to her, their neighbours discovered where they were being held and began bringing food to them after about five days.
“Then after five days, they started feeding us,” she testified.
Fatima said that after about one week, the authorities informed the family that the money provided for their feeding had been exhausted.
She said she complained that she and the children were hungry but was told that the authorities no longer had the financial capacity to feed them.
“It was my neighbours that continuously brought food,” she said.
Fatima testified that the family was informed after about one week that her husband had been found.
She said she pleaded with the authorities to release her and the children because they had committed no offence. However, they were allegedly kept in custody despite the children being expected to attend school.
“The children were meant to be in school. We were not released and were crying,” she told the court.
According to Fatima, she and the children eventually spent 21 days in military custody.
She also told the court that she could not remember her husband’s age.
During cross-examination, Fatima was asked whether she was present when Corporal Audu made his statement to the authorities.
“No, I was not there,” she replied.
She was also asked whether she requested that the authorities release her.
“Yes, because I did not commit a crime,” she said.
When asked whether she was taken to Abuja following her husband’s arrest, Fatima replied that the family did not live in Abuja.
There was no re-examination of her testimony.
Suleiman testified after his mother and affirmed that he would tell the truth.
He identified Corporal Audu as his father and told the court that he could recognise him.
Suleiman said the incident occurred at about 11pm in October 2025 while the family was at home.
“I can remember around October 2025, around 11 in the night. We were home, then we heard a knock, but we did not answer,” he testified.
According to him, the people outside subsequently struck the door, prompting his mother to respond.
“They then hit it, then my mum answered and saw two persons in mufti,” he said.
Suleiman testified that the men asked his mother about her husband and that she told them he was at work.
“Then they said he was in the house,” he told the court.
He said the men entered the house and conducted a search but did not find his father.
According to him, one of the men went outside to make a telephone call and later informed the family that the commanding officer of the barracks wanted to see them.
Suleiman said five family members were in the house at the time: his mother, Amina, Mohammed, Abdullahi and himself.
“We were asked to come outside and lock the door. We went to the roadside and the C.O. asked where my father was, and they took us away in the car,” he testified.
He said his mother asked what had happened but was told that the authorities were searching for her husband.
According to Suleiman, the family was initially taken to 313 Barracks, where they were made to sit before being moved elsewhere.
He said his mother was given a telephone and that the person on the other end asked where her husband was, but she responded that she did not know.
Suleiman testified that the family later met the commanding officer of the Military Police and was taken away in an Army Hilux.
“We were taken to Military Police,” he said.
He told the court that the authorities asked for his age and that he said he was 20, while his younger brother was 18.
According to Suleiman, he asked why the family was being taken into a cell and was allegedly slapped.
“I asked what we are going to do inside the cell. I was slapped, and they were looking for my father,” he testified.
He alleged that the officers informed the family that they would not be released until his father was found.
Suleiman said the family members were separated after they arrived at the detention facility.
“We were separated. I and Abdullahi were in one cell, and my mum and the other children were put in a separate cell,” he testified.
He said he and his brother slept on the bare floor.
“We slept on bare floor,” he said.
According to Suleiman, the family requested food the following morning but was informed that no money had been provided for feeding.
“Daybreak, we requested for food. They said they were not given our feeding money,” he told the court.
He said the family repeatedly requested to be released and asked that the commanding officer be contacted.
Suleiman testified that food was eventually brought to them in the evening.
He said feeding money was provided after four days, but the family was later informed that it had been exhausted.
“After four days, feeding money was sent,” he testified.
Suleiman further alleged that he and other members of his family were subjected to physical abuse while in custody.
“We were tortured in that cell,” he told the court.
“After a week, we were told that feeding money was finished.”
He also said the family was prevented from receiving visitors because the required permission had not been granted.
“Nobody would be allowed to see us because we were not given permission,” he testified.
Suleiman said their neighbours nevertheless continued to provide food for the family during the detention.
According to him, the family was informed after about one week that his father had been found, but the authorities still refused to release them.
“After a week, we were told that our father was found. They said they can’t release us,” he testified.
Suleiman told the court that he and his brother subsequently became ill and requested medical attention.
“We fell sick and asked that I and my brother should be taken to hospital,” he said.
He alleged that a staff sergeant placed them in handcuffs and made them walk to the medical centre while Military Police personnel rode motorcycles.
“Then Staff Sergeant put us in cuffs. There is distance between medical centre. We were forced to trek while the MP were on bike,” he testified.
Suleiman said that when they arrived at the medical centre, a doctor questioned why they had been brought for treatment in handcuffs.
He said they were treated but were made to walk back to the Military Police facility while still restrained.
“We were treated. We trekked back handcuffed,” he said.
According to Suleiman, the family remained in custody for about 20 days before being informed that feeding money had again been provided and food was purchased for them.
“We returned to MP. After 20 days, our feeding money was sent and food was bought for us,” he testified.
He said the family was released the following morning and that his mother was given N5,000 to assist them in returning home.
During cross-examination, Suleiman was asked whether he and his family were taken to Abuja after their release.
“No,” he replied.
He was also asked whether he was present when his father made his statement.
“No,” Suleiman answered.
There was no re-examination, and the testimony was subsequently closed after the court was informed that it formed part of the case of the 33rd defendant.
Nigerian authorities announced in late 2025 that they had uncovered an alleged plot involving military officers and civilians to overthrow the Tinubu administration.
The Defence Headquarters subsequently confirmed an investigation after 16 military officers were arrested. Proceedings arising from the allegations have continued before a Federal High Court and a court martial.
The allegations against Corporal Audu and the other defendants remain subject to determination by the respective courts.
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