From Victor Osula, Abuja
Nigeria’s Federal Government has filed a 13-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja against seven individuals, including senior retired military officers and a serving police inspector, over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu.
Those named in the charge include Timipre Sylva, who is reportedly at large; retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana; retired naval captain, Erasmus Ochegobia Victor; serving police inspector, Ahmed Ibrahim; alongside Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.
The charges, filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, accuse the defendants of conspiring in 2025 to “levy war against the state” in a bid to overthrow the President—an offence bordering on treason under Nigerian law.
Additional counts include terrorism-related offences, failure to disclose intelligence, and alleged involvement in terrorism financing.
Court documents allege that the accused were part of a broader network involving both military and civilian actors.
The charge sheet also details an alleged financial trail linked to the plot. Prosecutors claim that Bukar Kashim Goni retained ₦50 million connected to terrorism financing, while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly held ₦2 million from similar sources. Zekeri Umoru is accused of receiving ₦10 million in cash outside the formal banking system and retaining an additional ₦8.8 million, while Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim allegedly possessed ₦1 million tied to the scheme.
Some of the defendants are further accused of attending meetings linked to terrorist activities and failing to report intelligence regarding plans to commit treason.
They are expected to be arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on April 22 at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The case is the most concrete legal action yet following months of speculation and investigation into an alleged coup plot that first surfaced in late 2025. At the time, the Federal Government’s abrupt cancellation of the Independence Day parade sparked rumours of security threats, though the Defence Headquarters initially dismissed any link to a coup attempt.
Weeks later, reports emerged that several military officers had been arrested. By January 2026, the Defence Headquarters publicly confirmed that a plot to overthrow the government had been uncovered.
The Director of Defence Information, Samaila Uba, said investigations conducted under military procedures found personnel culpable, with assurances that those involved would face appropriate judicial processes.
