The Nigerian government has charged several military officers and civilians with plotting a coup against President Bola Tinubu. The arraignment took place at the Federal High Court in Abuja before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, with defendants escorted into court under tight security on Wednesday afternoon. The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation confirmed the charges, which include treason, terrorism, and money laundering, contained in court document FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026 signed by Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi (SAN). The 13-count charge alleges a 2025 conspiracy to "levy war against the state" and overthrow the Tinubu administration.
Named suspects include retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani. Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva is also listed but remains at large. Prosecution claims the accused knew about a planned coup involving Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma'aji and others but failed to report it, violating the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. They are further accused of attending secret meetings and supporting efforts to destabilise Nigeria's constitutional order.
Financial links form a central part of the case. Bukar Kashim Goni is accused of holding N50 million suspected to be terrorism proceeds, while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly kept N2 million in a Jaiz Bank account tied to the plot. Zekeri Umoru reportedly received N10 million in cash and held N8.8 million in a Zenith Bank account; Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim allegedly managed N1 million linked to the conspiracy. The suspects were initially detained over disciplinary issues before authorities said they uncovered the broader plot. Families of some officers have protested, claiming incommunicado detention for over five months. The military recently allowed limited access to the Defence Intelligence Agency facility in Abuja. Defence Minister General Christopher Musa stated he was marked for arrest or assassination in the alleged scheme.
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