Proceedings are set to commence today, April 22, 2026, at the Federal High Court in Abuja as the court begins hearing on a 13-count charge filed by the Federal Government against six individuals accused of plotting to overthrow the Nigerian government and engaging in terrorism-related activities.
The defendants—retired Major General Mohammed Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani—are expected to be arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
Also listed in the charge but currently at large is former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.
The charge was filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN). The prosecution accuses the defendants of offences including treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence, and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.
According to court filings, the accused allegedly conspired in 2025 to “levy war against the state to overpower the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” an offence punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
The Federal Government further alleged that the defendants had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others but failed to notify authorities.
Prosecutors stated that the accused persons, despite being aware of the alleged plan, did not provide timely information to the President or relevant security agencies and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the act.
Beyond the treason charge, the defendants are also facing terrorism-related counts under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. They were accused of conspiring to carry out acts capable of destabilising Nigeria’s constitutional structure.
Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru were specifically accused of attending meetings linked to the alleged plot in a bid to promote a political agenda that could undermine national stability.
The charge further alleges that the defendants knowingly rendered support for terrorism and deliberately withheld intelligence that could have prevented the alleged acts.
On the financial side, several of the accused are facing charges under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Bukar Kashim Goni was alleged to have retained N50 million suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing, while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly held N2 million from a similar source.
Zekeri Umoru was accused of accepting N10 million in cash outside formal financial channels and retaining an additional N8.8 million linked to terrorism financing. Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim was also alleged to have taken possession of N1 million tied to the same offence.
The case adds to a series of developments surrounding an alleged coup plot first reported in October 2025, when the Federal Government cancelled the ceremonial parade for Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, sparking widespread speculation.
Although the Defence Headquarters initially dismissed claims linking the cancellation to a coup attempt, authorities later confirmed that several military officers had been arrested in connection with an alleged plan to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In January 2026, the military said investigations had uncovered the involvement of some personnel, with assurances that those implicated would be tried in accordance with the law.
By March and April, family members of detained officers intensified calls for transparency, staging protests in Abuja and demanding open trials as well as improved access to their relatives in custody.
More details coming…
