Nigeria’s political and security space has been jolted by fresh legal action as the Federal Government files a sweeping 13-count charge over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu.
The case, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, names six defendants including senior security figures and civilians, with a former minister also declared at large.
Among those charged are retired Major General Mohammed Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani. Also listed in the charge is former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who is reportedly still being sought by authorities.
The charges, filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by Director of Public Prosecutions Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), include allegations of treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence, and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2025 to “levy war against the state” with the aim of removing the sitting president, an offence punishable under Nigerian law.
The government further claims that the accused had prior knowledge of a planned coup involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others but failed to notify authorities or take steps to prevent the alleged plot.
Prosecutors argue that the defendants deliberately withheld intelligence that could have disrupted the plan, accusing them of failing to report critical information “with all reasonable despatch” to relevant authorities.
Beyond the treason allegations, the defendants are also facing charges under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, with the Federal Government alleging that they conspired to destabilise Nigeria’s constitutional order.
Two of the accused, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru were specifically alleged to have attended meetings connected to the plot, aimed at advancing a political agenda capable of undermining the country’s governance structure.
Financial trails linked to the case also form a key part of the prosecution’s argument. Authorities allege that several defendants handled funds suspected to be tied to terrorism financing, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Bukar Goni is accused of retaining N50 million linked to unlawful activities, while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly held N2 million from similar sources. Zekeri Umoru is said to have accepted and retained multiple cash payments outside formal financial systems, while Inspector Ibrahim allegedly received N1 million connected to the same network.
The high-profile case is expected to test Nigeria’s legal and security institutions, with potential implications for political stability and the enforcement of anti-terrorism laws as proceedings unfold.
