The ruling All Progressives Congress on Wednesday supported the Department of State Services regarding the criminal charges brought against ...
The ruling All Progressives Congress on Wednesday supported the Department of State Services regarding the criminal charges brought against 27-year-old Innocent Onukwume, who was detained for allegedly advocating a military coup in Nigeria.
Nevertheless, various civil society groups criticized the DSS's actions, contending that the government's shortcomings were driving discontented Nigerians to pursue extreme measures to address poverty, lack of security, and poor leadership.
The allegations filed against the accused in the Federal High Court in Abuja, under case reference FHC/ABJ/CR/610/2025, concern messages that Onukwume is said to have shared on his X profile, @theagroman, during October 2025.
Checks by The PUNCHOn Wednesday, it was revealed that the account was suspended by X due to alleged rule violations.
However, as per the DSS, the posts promoted the removal of the ruling APC, the shutdown of the Federal Government, and backing the military in assuming control of the nation.
The legal document submitted on Tuesday by DSS attorney A.M. Danalami stated that the prosecution claimed Onukwume's behavior violated Sections 46A(1) and 59(1) of the Criminal Code Act, along with Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024 (as updated).
Among the remarks credited to him are: “A military takeover in Nigeria is essential. Remove the APC, halt the Nigerian administration, and align with the AES. That is what we require at this moment.”
He is said to have also written, "It will happen eventually, Nigerian. The military requires your support right now! Only they can rescue this nation. The person in Aso Rock has essentially sold the country to the West, and they control our intelligence system; only the military can restore this country."
In a different post, he is said to have remarked, “Tinubu needs to leave, and the APC must collapse for Nigeria to experience any form of normalcy. And if you believe your foolish votes can get rid of Tinubu, I'm here to inform you that you're mistaken.”
The DSS also referenced the same post that was shared on his account, stating, “A coup in Nigeria is necessary. Remove the APC, halt the Nigerian Government, and align with the AES. That is what we require at this moment.”
On Wednesday, Dr Ijeoma Arodiogbu, the APC National Vice Chairman for the South-East, responded by calling Onukwume's actions reckless and hazardous, cautioning that appeals for the reinstatement of military governance endanger the nation's democratic security.
Arodiogbu stated, 'Any rational individual understands that the worst democracy is preferable to the most effective military rule.'
That young man's actions constituted a serious misconduct, and the DSS also has an obligation to make a decision it considers appropriate to safeguard our democracy in the nation's best interest.
Reiterating comparable views, the Deputy National Organising Secretary of the APC, Nze Chidi Duru, criticized Onukwume's statements.
Duru characterized the young man's remarks as "unwarranted, careless, and something that should not have been expressed in the first place."
"The remarks of Mr. Onukwume and similar individuals are not only unnecessary and dangerous but should never have been expressed in the first place. We operate under the rule of law and order in this nation; any complaint one has must be addressed while staying within legal boundaries," Duru stated.
He warned residents to avoid making provocative statements that might be associated with violent acts or rebellion.
"It is unjust to regard our fellow humans and declare, 'I will destroy you' or 'I will take your life.' Should something occur, people will inevitably direct their attention towards that individual. There will be a link between this and a resulting outcome," he said.
So we need to understand how to behave irrespective of our emotions, act in a proper manner, and be evaluated based on the statements we utter.
We hope, I think, that this will be one of the actions the DSS is undertaking or has undertaken to ensure individuals are responsible for their behavior, including the language they use and the claims they express.
However, Juwon Sanyaolu, the National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, a human rights organization, stated that although the group does not endorse a military coup, the Nigerian government is responsible for the circumstances that lead individuals to advocate for one.
Sanyaolu stated, "To be clear, we do not endorse a military coup, and this is mainly due to the fact that the years of military governance led Nigeria into severe hardship from which we have yet to fully recover."
Nevertheless, the key issue that the Bola Tinubu administration should be most worried about is the reality that it has caused the Nigerian population to distrust the so-called democracy, particularly because this democracy has failed to benefit them.
The activist pointed to the increasing cost of living and poverty within the country, along with the security challenges impacting the nation, as reasons for public dissatisfaction, stating, "No matter how many individuals the DSS targets, it won't prevent Nigerians from emphasizing that the government has indeed fallen short."
The issue is that Nigerians are seeking any solution, and they are drawn to anything that appears to be a solution, which is why they are looking towards Donald Trump and even the military.
He emphasized, "But our stance within the TIB is that we concur with the Nigerian people that this government has not performed adequately; nevertheless, only a revolution, the widespread mobilization of the Nigerian population, can improve the circumstances."
Finally, we promptly and without any conditions demand the release of the individual facing unjust charges, and we urge the DSS to address the issues being highlighted, such as insecurity, instead of targeting people who are legitimately pointing out the negligence in governance.
Reiterating a comparable view, Adaramoye Michael, the National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign, stated that the DSS "should immediately stop these absurd allegations and show respect for human rights."
He stated that although a military regime does not ensure a better nation for Nigerians, people have the right to promote the type of government they believe is best.
Crushing free speech will only lead to more people becoming disenchanted with the so-called democratic governance that the DSS claims to uphold. You cannot protect democracy through tyranny. The most effective approach for a genuine government to address calls for military rule is to first acknowledge the democratic rights of its citizens.
This should be accompanied by reversing all the policies that have made life very tough for the people. The APC/Tinubu administration and the whole ruling elite have turned the lives of millions of Nigerians into a nightmare; a country endowed with resources that could eliminate poverty has become the epicenter of global poverty.
He stated, “In these conditions, it's difficult to persuade the public that democratic governance is moving in the correct path. Nevertheless, this does not imply that military rule, in comparable situations, would be advantageous for the citizens. What is required is a genuine democratic society where the country's resources are genuinely owned by the people, administered by them, and utilized to satisfy the people's needs rather than the desires of a small group.”
Onukwume, a person living in Umusayo Layout, Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, is set to appear in court later this week.
In October, there were accounts of a suspected scheme involving certain military members aiming to depose President Bola Tinubu's government.
Nevertheless, this sparked anger among Nigerians, as senior attorneys, civic organizations, and former generals cautioned against any effort to undermine democracy.
In the meantime, the Defense Headquarters rejected the claims, stating that there were no coup-related arrests or plans within the armed forces.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
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