The Federal Government is set to arraign suspected coup plotters on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of treason, terrorism, and related offences.
The defendants are to be brought before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on a 13-count charge filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026, was filed on April 20 by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.
Those named in the case include retired Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Naval Capt. Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.
A former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, is also listed in the charge but is said to be at large.
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2025 to undermine the Nigerian state and “levy war against the state to overawe the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” an offence said to be punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
The Federal Government further alleged that the accused persons had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving one Col. Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others but failed to report it to security authorities.
The charge stated that they “did not give the information thereof with all reasonable despatch to either the President or a peace officer,” despite knowing that an offence was intended.
They were also accused of failing to take reasonable steps to prevent the alleged offence.
In addition to treason allegations, the defendants are facing terrorism-related charges under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The prosecution alleged that they “conspired with one another to commit an act of terrorism in the Federal Republic of Nigeria” and participated in meetings linked to terrorist activities.
It further claimed the accused persons acted “in a bid to further a political ideology which may seriously destabilise the constitutional structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
They are also accused of providing support for terrorism and withholding critical intelligence that could have prevented the alleged attacks.
The charge includes allegations of terrorism financing and money laundering, with several defendants accused of handling large sums suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Bukar Kashim Goni is alleged to have retained N50 million linked to terrorism financing, while Abdulkadir Sani is accused of retaining N2 million from similar sources.
Zekeri Umoru is said to have accepted N10 million in cash without going through a financial institution and retained an additional N8.8 million allegedly linked to the scheme.
Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim is also accused of receiving N1 million tied to the alleged offences.
All financial-related counts were filed under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The prosecution described the alleged activities as a coordinated network involving military officers, a serving police officer, civilians, and a politically exposed person, allegedly aimed at threatening national security.
The court is expected to hear the case on Wednesday.
