FG has filed treason and terrorism charges against Ex-Military Officers and Police Inspector over alleged coup plot.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Federal Government has filed a 13-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja against six individuals, including two retired senior military officers and a serving police inspector, over an alleged plot to wage war against Nigeria and commit acts of terrorism.
The defendants; retired Major General Mohammed Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani are expected to be arraigned on Wednesday, April 22, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
Also named in the charge, but currently at large, is former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.
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The charges were filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN). The charge include treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence, and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.
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 Nigerian law.
They were also accused of having prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others, but failing to inform authorities or take steps to prevent the alleged plot.
The government further alleged that the defendants neglected their duty to disclose critical intelligence that could have prevented acts of terrorism, thereby violating provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru were specifically accused of attending meetings connected to the alleged conspiracy, aimed at advancing a political ideology capable of destabilising Nigeria’s constitutional structure.
In addition, prosecutors claimed the defendants provided material support for terrorism and deliberately suppressed intelligence that could have helped avert the planned acts.
Financial allegations also form a key part of the case. Several defendants are accused of handling funds tied to terrorism financing in breach of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Bukar Goni allegedly retained ₦50 million, while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly handled ₦2 million from suspected illicit sources. Zekeri Umoru was accused of accepting ₦10 million in cash outside the financial system and retaining an additional ₦8.8 million, while Inspector Ibrahim allegedly took possession of ₦1 million linked to terrorism financing.
The case is seen as a major test of the Federal Government’s commitment to tackling threats to national security as proceedings begin.
The charges are linked to earlier developments surrounding an alleged coup plot. In October 2025, authorities arrested several military officers over suspected involvement, while the Defence Headquarters initially downplayed reports connecting the arrests to a coup attempt.
However, in January 2026, the Defence Headquarters confirmed that there had been a plan to overthrow President Bola Tinubu, following internal investigations.
Since then, families of detained officers have called for a transparent trial, staging protests and appealing to the President to ensure open court proceedings and access to their relatives.
The trial, set to commence in Abuja, is expected to draw significant public attention as Nigeria confronts allegations of high-level threats to its democratic stability.
