FG slams 13-count charge on alleged coup plotters, ex-minister declared at large

The Federal Government has filed a 13-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja against six individuals, including two retired senior military officers and a serving police inspector, over an alleged plot to wage war against Nigeria and commit acts of terrorism.

 

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 on Wednesday, April 22, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

 

Also named in the charge, but currently at large, is a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.

 

The charge, filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), borders on treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence, and alleged money laundering linked to terrorism financing.

 

According to the prosecution, the defendants 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.

 

They were also accused of withholding intelligence on a planned coup involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others.

 

The charge stated that the defendants, “knowing that a treasonable act was intended to be committed, did not give information thereof… to either the President… or a peace officer,” and “did not use any reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the offence.”

 

Under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, the suspects were further accused of conspiring to commit acts aimed at destabilising Nigeria’s constitutional structure.

 

Investigators alleged that Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru attended meetings linked to the plot “in a bid to further a political ideology which may seriously destabilise” the country.

 

On the financial side, the defendants face allegations of handling funds tied to terrorism financing. Bukar Goni was accused of retaining N50 million linked to unlawful activity, while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly held N2 million from similar sources.

 

Zekeri Umoru was said to have accepted N10 million in cash outside formal financial channels and retained an additional N8.8 million suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing. Inspector Ibrahim was also accused of possessing N1 million linked to such activities.

 

The case follows months of investigations into an alleged coup plot first hinted at in October 2025, when authorities cancelled Independence Day celebrations amid rising speculation.

 

While the Defence Headquarters initially dismissed coup claims, it later confirmed in January 2026 that a plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu had been uncovered, with several military officers arrested.

 

Families of detained suspects have since demanded an open trial and access to their relatives, staging protests at the National Assembly earlier this month.