One of six defendants accused in an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu arrived at the Federal High Court in Abuja for arraignment on Wednesday. Abdulkadir Sani, an Islamic cleric from Zaria, Kaduna State, appeared in court around 9 a.m., the only defendant not in custody. Five others—Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, a retired major-general; Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, a retired navy captain; Ahmed Ibrahim, a police inspector; Zekeri Umoru, an electrician at the Presidential Villa; and Bukar Kashim—are expected to be brought to court by 12 p.m. The prosecution named former Bayelsa Governor Timipre Silva as a conspirator in seven of 13 charges but has not yet charged him, stating he is on the run. Silva previously served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under former President Muhammadu Buhari. Five of Silva's aides and domestic workers are in detention over the allegations. Sani's presence in court follows a Monday ruling by Judge Peter Lifu ordering his unconditional release. The judge held that Sani's prolonged detention without a valid court order violated constitutional rights to liberty, fair hearing, dignity, and freedom of movement. The suit was filed against the EFCC, DIA, Attorney-General of the Federation, Jaiz Bank Plc, and the SSS. The court awarded N1 million each against Jaiz Bank and EFCC, and a joint N4 million against SSS and DIA, plus a written apology. The federal government filed 13 charges under the Criminal Code Act, the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022. The first charge accuses the defendants of conspiring to wage war against the state. Counts two and three allege they knew of the plot led by Colonel Mohammed Ma'aji but failed to report it.
The same court that ordered Abdulkadir Sani's release over rights violations is now hearing the case against him on treason charges, raising questions about the consistency of judicial reasoning. While Sani walks free ahead of arraignment, five co-defendants remain in custody without similar rulings. Timipre Silva, named in seven counts, remains uncharged and at large despite his prior ministerial role. Nigerians named in the case face detention or prosecution while others linked to the plot are neither in court nor under formal charge.
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