By Vivian Okejeme and Abubakar Yunusa
The Federal Government will on Wednesday arraign suspected coup plotters before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged treason and terrorism offences.
The suspects are to be docked on a 13-count charge before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, according to court documents filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
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 listed as defendants include retired Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, Capt. (NN) Erasmus Ochegobia Victor (rtd), Insp. Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.
A former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, is also named in the charge but is said to be at large.
The Federal Government accused the defendants of conspiring in 2025 to undermine the Nigerian state and “levy war against the state to overawe the President.”
The offence, the prosecution noted, is punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants allegedly had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving Col. Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others but failed to alert authorities.
The prosecution stated that they, “knowing that and intended to commit treason, did not give the information thereof with all reasonable despatch to either the President or a Peace Officer.”
They were also accused of failing to take preventive steps to stop the alleged plot.
On terrorism-related counts, the Federal Government alleged that the defendants “conspired with one another to commit an act of terrorism” and participated in meetings aimed at destabilising Nigeria’s constitutional order.
Specifically, Insp. Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru were said to have attended meetings linked to terrorist activities “in a bid to further a political ideology.”
The AGF further alleged that the suspects suppressed critical intelligence that could have prevented the acts, noting they “failed to disclose the information to the relevant agency as soon as practicable.”
The charge also detailed alleged financial transactions linked to terrorism financing.
Bukar Goni was accused of retaining N50m suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity, while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly held N2m.
Zekeri Umoru was said to have accepted N10m cash outside the banking system and retained an additional N8.8m, while Insp. Ahmed Ibrahim allegedly took possession of N1m tied to the scheme.
All financial-related charges were filed under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The government described the case as involving a coordinated network of security personnel, civilians and a politically exposed individual allegedly linked to activities threatening national security.
Six of the suspects were earlier arrested by the Department of State Services, while Sylva remains at large and is expected to be tried in absentia.
The defendants are expected to take their plea when the matter comes up on Wednesday.
