FG files 13-count treason charge against alleged coup plotters
The federal government has filed a 13-count charge before the federal high court in Abuja against some military personnel over alleged plan to stage a coup against the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The arraigned is coming six months after the arrest and detention of the suspects.
It is also coming a day after a court in Abuja ordered the unconditional release of Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir Zaria who was detained in connection with the coup investigation.
Among the suspects being arraigned are a retired major general, a retired naval captain, a serving police inspector and others.
The suspects are being arraigned over alleged plan to wage war against Nigeria and acts bordering on treason and terrorism.
In October 2025, the federal government announced the cancellation of a parade earlier scheduled to celebrate the country’s 65th independence anniversary on October 1.
Days later, there were reports that the cancellation of the independence anniversary event was linked to an alleged coup attempt, but the Defence Headquarters denied the report.
However, on October 31, 2025, the military authorities announced the arrest of 16 military officers over an alleged coup plot, while two other officers were on the run.
In January 2026, the defence headquarters (DHQ) confirmed that there was a plot to overthrow the Tinubu administration.
Samaila Uba, the DHQ director of defence information, had said investigations conducted in line with established military procedures found some personnel involved in a coup plot.
Uba had said the officers would be arraigned before relevant military judicial panels.
In March, family members of military officers detained over the alleged coup plot demanded that the suspects be tried in an open court.
During a press conference in Abuja, wives and other family members of the detained officers also requested access to the alleged coup masterminds.
Similarly, families in April protested at the National Assembly, the continued detention of the suspects without trial.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the unconditional release of Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir Zaria and awarded him N5 million in damages for the violation of his fundamental human rights by security agencies and a commercial bank.
The judgment was delivered on Monday by Justice Peter O. Lifu.
The court held that the prolonged detention of the cleric without a valid court order breached his rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing, and freedom of movement as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
In the certified true copy of the judgement sighted by Peoples Daily, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/55/2026, Justice Lifu directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to ensure full compliance with the court’s orders.
The fundamental rights suit was filed by Sheikh Sani Zaria through his lawyer, Sani Musa SAN, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Attorney-General of the Federation, Jaiz Bank Plc, and the State Security Service (SSS).
The court specifically ordered the unconditional and immediate release of the applicant and declared the restriction placed on the cleric’s Jaiz Bank account without a court order as unlawful and a breach of his fundamental rights.
The judge awarded N1 million each against the EFCC and Jaiz Bank Plc for the unlawful restriction placed on the account.
He further awarded N4 million jointly and severally against the DIA and SSS for the gross violation of the applicant’s fundamental human rights.
Additionally, the DIA and SSS were ordered by the court to publish a written apology to the applicant in accordance with Section 35(6) of the Constitution.
The judge also ordered Jaiz Bank to lift the restriction placed on the cleric’s bank account with immediate effect.
The case stemmed from the cleric’s detention since late 2025 after he travelled to Abuja to resolve issues relating to the freezing of his bank account over an alleged N2 million transaction linked to investigations involving a coup plot suspect.
