The federal government has filed a 13-count charge against six individuals over an alleged plot to overthrow the Nigerian state, with the defendants set to be arraigned on Wednesday, April 22, at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Those to be docked include retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.
The case will be heard by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
Also named in the charge, but currently at large, is former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.
The charges, filed by the office of the attorney-general of the federation and signed by Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), include allegations of treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence, and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.
According to court documents, the defendants are accused of conspiring in 2025 to “levy war against the state” with the intent to overawe the president, an offence punishable under Nigerian law.
Prosecutors further allege that the suspects had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others, but failed to report it to authorities or take steps to prevent its execution.
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In addition to treason-related counts, the defendants are facing terrorism charges under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Specifically, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru are accused of participating in meetings linked to activities aimed at destabilising Nigeria’s constitutional order.
The charge also claims the defendants provided support for terrorism and deliberately withheld intelligence that could have helped prevent the alleged acts.
Financial crimes form a major part of the case, with several defendants accused of handling funds suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing.
Bukar Kashim Goni is alleged to have retained ₦50 million linked to unlawful activities, while Abdulkadir Sani is accused of holding ₦2 million from a similar source.
Zekeri Umoru is further alleged to have received ₦10 million in cash outside formal financial channels and retained an additional ₦8.8 million tied to the alleged scheme.
Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim is also accused of possessing ₦1 million connected to the transactions.
All financial-related charges were brought under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
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