The Nigerian government, under President Bola Tinubu, has filed extensive charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja against several individuals implicated in an alleged plot to wage war against the nation and commit acts of terrorism. The comprehensive 13-count charge targets a diverse group including Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (rtd), Captain (NN) Erasmus Ochegobia Victor (rtd), a serving Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani. Notably, former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, is also listed in the charge as being at large. These defendants are slated for arraignment on Wednesday, April 22, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

The charges, filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, encompass serious offenses ranging from treason and terrorism to failure to disclose crucial security intelligence and money laundering connected to terrorism financing. At the core of the prosecution's case is the allegation that the defendants conspired in 2025 to actively undermine the Nigerian state, thereby threatening its constitutional structure and stability. These alleged actions are considered punishable under various Nigerian statutes, specifically Section 37(2) and 40(b) of the Criminal Code Cap C38 LFN 2004, the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

A central accusation is the conspiracy "to levy war against the state to overawe the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria." Furthermore, the prosecution asserts that the defendants had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act, specifically involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others, but deliberately failed to inform authorities "with all reasonable despatch to either the President… or a Peace Officer." In an extension of this failure, they are also accused of not taking any "reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the offence," thereby compounding their alleged involvement in the plot.

Beyond treason, the defendants face severe terrorism-related offenses. The charge alleges a conspiracy "to commit an act of terrorism in the Federal Republic of Nigeria." Specifically, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru are implicated in participating in meetings directly linked to terrorist activities, with prosecutors claiming their actions were "in a bid to further a political ideology which may seriously destabilize the constitutional structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria." The government further alleges that the defendants "knowingly and indirectly, rendered support" to facilitate acts of terror and deliberately suppressed vital intelligence that "would be of material assistance in preventing the commission of the act of terrorism."

Financial impropriety, specifically money laundering linked to terrorism financing, forms another critical component of the charges. Bukar Kashim Goni is accused of "indirectly retained the aggregate sum of N50,000,000 which forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: terrorism financing." Similarly, Abdulkadir Sani allegedly retained N2 million from a comparable source. Zekeri Umoru is charged with accepting a cash payment of N10,000,000 outside a financial institution and retaining an additional N8.8 million, all suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing. Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim is also implicated, accused of taking possession of N1 million connected to this alleged financial scheme.

The unfolding legal battle follows a series of events that drew public attention to the alleged coup plot. In October 2025, the federal government cancelled the planned 65th independence anniversary parade, with subsequent reports linking this cancellation to an alleged coup attempt, although the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) initially dismissed these claims. However, TheCable reported the arrest of 16 military officers in the first week of October 2025, with two others reportedly on the run. By January 2026, the DHQ officially confirmed a plot to overthrow President Tinubu, stating that investigations had found personnel involved. In the subsequent months of March and April, family members of the detained military officers publicly appealed to President Tinubu for open trials and access to their relatives, even protesting at the National Assembly entrance.

This high-profile case underscores the Nigerian government's firm stance against any attempts to destabilize the nation, with the forthcoming arraignment marking a significant step in addressing these grave allegations of treason, terrorism, and related financial crimes.