By Abu Adamu
The Federal Government will today, Wednesday, April 22, 2026, arraign seven persons, including an ex-Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva (listed as “at large”), a retired major general, among others, over an alleged plot to overthrow the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation filed a 13-count charge bordering on treason, terrorism, and money laundering before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026, was entered on April 20 by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.
Those named in the charge include retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Navy 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 listed as “at large.”
Prosecutors allege that the defendants conspired in 2025 “to levy war against the state to overawe the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” an offence under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
According to the charge, the accused persons were aware of a planned treasonable act involving Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others but failed to notify either the President or any law enforcement authority. They were further accused of not taking reasonable steps to prevent the alleged offence.
The Federal Government also invoked provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, alleging that the defendants “conspired with one another to commit an act of terrorism.” Specifically, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru were said to have attended meetings aimed at advancing a political ideology capable of destabilising Nigeria’s constitutional order.
Another strand of the prosecution’s case centres on alleged suppression of intelligence, with the defendants accused of withholding information that could have helped prevent the acts.
Financial allegations were also detailed under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Bukar Goni is accused of retaining N50 million linked to terrorism financing, while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly held N2 million from similar sources. Zekeri Umoru is accused of accepting N10 million in cash outside the banking system and retaining an additional N8.8 million suspected to be proceeds of terrorism. Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim allegedly handled N1 million tied to the plot.
The prosecution described the case as “a coordinated network involving security personnel, civilians, and a politically exposed individual,” raising concerns about threats to national security.
However, in what appears to be a significant procedural shift, the Federal Government has separated the suspects into categories, distinguishing between civilians, police personnel, retired officers, and serving members of the armed forces.
While the seven defendants are to be tried in a civilian court, several serving officers and men allegedly linked to the same plot are expected to face military justice, likely through court-martial.
Among those listed are Brigadier General M.A. Sadiq of Army Headquarters Garrison; Colonel M.A. Ma’aji of the Defence Space Administration; and a number of lieutenant colonels, majors, captains, and other ranks drawn from various formations, including special forces units, battalions, and command institutions across the country.
Also named are personnel from the Nigerian Navy and Air Force, as well as operatives attached to strategic institutions such as the National Counter Terrorism Centre and the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.
The list further includes non-commissioned officers and other ranks serving in key operational and administrative units.
The decision to split the trials is seen as an attempt to align the prosecution process with existing legal frameworks governing civilians and military personnel, with serving officers subject to military law and discipline.
Legal analysts say the development underscores the scale and sensitivity of the alleged plot, as well as the government’s effort to manage jurisdictional complexities in prosecuting a case that cuts across multiple layers of Nigeria’s security architecture.
The arraignment is scheduled to take place before Justice Abdulmalik in Abuja. As of the time of filing this report, no plea had been entered by the defendants.