The federal government has filed a 13-count charge before a federal high court in Abuja against individuals accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu.
Names in the charge include six individuals, including two retired senior military officers and a serving police inspector, over an alleged plot to overthrow the Nigerian government and commit acts of terrorism.
Those listed in the suit are retired major general Mohammed Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.
They are expected to be arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
Also named in the charge, but said to be at large, is Timipre Sylva, former minister of state for petroleum resources.
The charge was filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by Rotimi Oyedepo, the director of public prosecutions.
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2025 “to levy war against the state to overpower the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, an offence punishable under the Criminal Code.
The government further alleged that the accused had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others, but failed to notify the authorities.
Court documents stated that the defendants, despite knowing of the alleged plan, did not provide the information “with all reasonable despatch” to the President or any peace officer.
They were also accused of failing to take reasonable steps to prevent the alleged offence.
Beyond treason, prosecutors brought terrorism-related charges under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, alleging that the defendants conspired to commit acts capable of destabilising Nigeria’s constitutional order.
Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru were specifically accused of attending meetings linked to the alleged plot in furtherance of a political ideology that could threaten national stability.
The prosecution also accused some of the defendants of handling funds suspected to be linked to terrorism financing.
According to the charge, Bukar Goni allegedly retained ₦50 million believed to be proceeds of terrorism financing, while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly retained ₦2 million from a similar source.
Zekeri Umoru was accused of accepting ₦10 million cash outside the formal banking system and retaining an additional ₦8.8 million linked to the same allegation.
Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim was also accused of receiving ₦1 million said to be proceeds of terrorism financing.
The case follows months of controversy surrounding an alleged coup plot first reported after the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary parade in October 2025.
While the Defence Headquarters initially denied any connection, authorities later confirmed that several military officers had been arrested over the alleged conspiracy.
In January 2026, the military said investigations had uncovered the involvement of some personnel in a plan to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Families of detained suspects have since staged protests in Abuja, demanding open trials, improved access to their relatives and a speedy hearing of the case.
