The Federal Government has filed a 13-count charge bordering on treason, terrorism, and money laundering against seven individuals, including former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, over an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of Bola Tinubu.
The charges, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, accuse the defendants of conspiring to levy war against the Nigerian state in a bid to destabilise the country’s constitutional order.
Those named in the suit include Sylva, who is reportedly at large; retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana; retired Naval Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor; serving Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim; and three others identified as Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.
The charge sheet, signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), alleges that the defendants conspired to “overawe” the President by force, an offence punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
According to the prosecution, the accused persons had prior knowledge of a planned coup involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others but failed to notify authorities. They were also accused of neglecting to take reasonable steps to prevent the alleged plot.
The Federal Government further alleged that some of the defendants participated in meetings linked to terrorist activities aimed at promoting a political ideology capable of undermining Nigeria’s constitutional structure.
Financial transactions tied to the alleged conspiracy also formed part of the charges. The government claimed that Goni retained N50 million suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing, while Sani allegedly held N2 million from similar sources. Umoru was accused of accepting N10 million in cash outside formal banking channels and retaining an additional N8.8 million linked to the alleged scheme. Inspector Ibrahim was also accused of receiving N1 million connected to the transactions.
All financial-related allegations were brought under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, while terrorism-related counts were filed under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The defendants are expected to be arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
The case follows months of speculation about a possible coup plot, which first surfaced in October 2025 after the Federal Government abruptly cancelled a planned military parade to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, citing security concerns. Although the military initially dismissed the claims, it later confirmed that 16 officers were facing court martial for attempting to overthrow the government.
It remains unclear whether the current charges are separate from the ongoing military trials.
Sylva, who served as minister between 2019 and 2023 and previously governed Bayelsa State, has denied any involvement in a coup plot. His residence was reportedly searched by investigators in October 2025, and an arrest warrant was later issued in a separate case. His aides have maintained that the allegations are politically motivated.
Reacting to the development, Bayelsa elder and convener of the South South Reawakening Group, Joseph Ambakederimo, urged that the trial be conducted transparently and without political interference.
He stressed that while anyone found culpable should face the full weight of the law, the prosecution must prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, adding that due process remains essential to sustaining public confidence in the justice system.
Comments