Six people, including two retired senior military commanders and a serving police inspector, face a 13-count charge filed by the Federal Government at the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly plotting a coup to wage war against Nigeria and carry out terrorist acts.
On Wednesday, April 22, the defendants—retired Major General Mohammed Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani—will be arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
Timipre Sylva, a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, is also mentioned in the accusation but is reportedly at large.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), signed the charge, which was filed on Monday by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
It charges the defendants with a variety of offences, including treason, terrorism, failing to disclose security intelligence, and money laundering connected to financing terrorism.
The prosecution alleged that 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.
The Federal Government further claimed that the defendants neglected to notify authorities despite having previous information of a planned treasonous conduct involving Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others.
According to the charge, the defendants, “knowing that a treasonable act was intended to be committed, did not give information thereof with all reasonable despatch to either the President… or a peace officer.”
Two of the detained coup plotters
They were also accused of failing to take preventive steps, as the charge stated that they “did not use any reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the offence.”
Terrorism-related charges
The defendants are accused of terrorism-related offences under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, in addition to treason.
Prosecutors alleged that they “conspired with one another to commit an act of terrorism in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru were categorically accused of attending meetings linked to the alleged plot, “in a bid to further a political ideology which may seriously destabilise the constitutional structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Regarding money, a number of defendants were charged with violating the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 by handling money connected to financing terrorism.
As hearings begin before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the case is anticipated to test the Federal Government’s determination to prosecute suspected threats to national security.
Independence Parade Cancelled
Recall that in October 2025, the Federal Government announced the cancellation of a ceremonial parade earlier scheduled to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary on October 1.
Reports that connected the cancellation to a purported coup attempt surfaced a few days after the announcement.
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