The Nigerian government has officially filed 13 charges against six individuals accused of orchestrating a plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu. These defendants, which include retired military officers and civilians, are slated for arraignment before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday. The charges, ranging from treason and terrorism to failure to disclose information and money laundering, were filed on Monday by Rotimi Oyedepo, Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, on behalf of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Among those charged are retired Major-General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Presidential Villa electrician Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Zaria-based Islamic cleric Abdulkadir Sani. Notably, Timipre Silva, a former Governor of Bayelsa and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under former President Muhammadu Buhari's administration, was named in seven of the 13 counts as an alleged financier of the coup plot. However, he is yet to be charged as a defendant, with the prosecution stating he is currently at large, despite his previous public denial of the allegations and a promise to return to clear his name.

The federal government brought these 13 charges in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026, invoking the Criminal Code Act, the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Several counts detail financial aspects of the alleged plot: in five counts, funds ranging from N2 million to N50 million, totaling N71.2 million, were reportedly found in the accounts of the police officer and civilians among the defendants, described as proceeds of terrorism financing.

Specifically, Count 1 accuses the defendants of conspiring to “wage war” against the state to remove President Tinubu from office, an offence under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code. Counts 2 and 3 allege that the defendants, knowing of Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji's (the alleged coup leader) intent to commit treason, failed to report or prevent it, violating Section 40(b) of the Criminal Code. Count 4 charges them with conspiracy to commit terrorism under Section 26(1) of the Terrorism Act. Inspector Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru are specifically accused in Count 5 of participating in meetings linked to terrorist activities, contrary to Sections 2(3)(d) and 12(a) of the Terrorism Act.

Subsequent counts detail further support provided to plotters, failure to disclose critical intelligence, and withholding information to aid arrests. Count 9 targets Abdulkadir Sani for indirectly retaining N2 million in his Jaiz Bank account, believed to be proceeds of terrorism financing. Similarly, Bukar Kashim Goni is accused in Count 10 of receiving N50 million through his First Bank account, also linked to terrorism financing. Zekeri Umoru is central to multiple counts, including receiving N10 million in cash from the alleged coup leader in September 2025 and retaining an additional N8.8 million in his Zenith Bank account, sums believed to be from unlawful activities. The final count, Count 13, accuses Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim of taking possession of N1 million from Mr. Ma’aji, knowing it was linked to terrorism financing.

Premium Times has extensively reported on this alleged coup plot, which initially faced denials from the Nigerian military. Previous reports detailed an elaborate scheme to storm the Presidential Villa, seize control of Nigeria’s seat of power, and detain President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. The conspirators were also alleged to have planned their assassinations. Investigators reportedly uncovered the procurement of at least 32 vehicles, including SUVs and Volkswagen Golf cars, intended for covert operations, intelligence gathering, and accessing strategic locations.

While Colonel Ma’aji was explicitly named as the leader, several serving military officers believed to be key architects of the plot were not listed as defendants in these initial civilian court charges. At least 16 senior officers, including Ma’aji, were arrested, with 14 from the Nigerian Army and others from the Navy and Air Force. These included Brigadier General M.A. Sadiq, Lieutenant Colonels A.A. Hayatu, P. Dangnap, M. Almakura, and S.M. Gana, Squadron Leader S.B. Adamu, and Lieutenant Commander D.B. Abdullahi. Serving officers involved are expected to face court-martial, while retired personnel and civilians are prosecuted in civilian courts.

The plot, uncovered in late September 2025, led to the cancellation of the Independence Day parade. Military authorities initially attributed the arrests to