FG Files 13-Count Treason Charges Against Sylva, Six Others Over Alleged Coup Plot

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The Federal Government has instituted a 13-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja against six individuals, including two retired military officers and a serving police officer, over an alleged plot to wage war against the Nigerian state and engage in terrorism.

Those named in the charge are Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (retd), Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor (retd), Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.

They are expected to be arraigned on Wednesday, April 22, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

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

The case was filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo. The defendants face charges ranging from treason and terrorism to failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering.

According to the prosecution, the accused allegedly conspired in 2025 to undermine the authority of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and destabilise the country. They were said to have planned to “levy war against the state” in violation of Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.

The 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 report it to the appropriate authorities or take steps to prevent it.

In addition to treason, the defendants are being prosecuted under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, for allegedly conspiring to carry out acts capable of disrupting Nigeria’s constitutional order.

Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru were specifically accused of attending meetings connected to the alleged plot, with prosecutors claiming their actions were aimed at advancing a political agenda that could destabilise the country.

The charge also includes allegations of providing material support for terrorism and withholding intelligence that could have thwarted the planned acts.

Alleged Terror Financing

The Federal Government further accused some of the defendants of involvement in terrorism financing and money laundering.

Bukar Kashim Goni was alleged to have retained ₦50 million linked to proceeds of terrorism financing, while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly held ₦2 million from a similar source.

Zekeri Umoru was accused of receiving ₦10 million in cash outside the formal financial system and retaining an additional ₦8.8 million suspected to be tied to terrorism financing.

Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim was also alleged to have taken possession of ₦1 million connected to the scheme.

All financial-related charges were filed under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.