The Federal High Court in Abuja has recently commenced proceedings in the terrorism trial of six defendants accused of plotting a coup against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, the court on Wednesday, April 22, arraigned the defendants on a 13-count charge filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), bordering on alleged terrorism-related offences, treason, and money laundering.

Among those docked are retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani, listed as the first to sixth defendants respectively. A notable figure, former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, is also listed in the charge sheet as being at large.

The prosecution alleges that the defendants conspired in 2025 to “levy war against the state” and forcefully remove the Tinubu administration. Specific charges include conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism, participation in secret meetings aimed at destabilising Nigeria’s constitutional order, providing logistical and financial support for the alleged plot, and failing to disclose security intelligence about a planned treasonable act involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others. The charges also extend to money laundering, with Bukar Kashim Goni accused of retaining N50 million, Abdulkadir Sani N2 million, Zekeri Umoru N10 million in cash and an additional N8.8 million, and Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim N1 million, all suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing.

During the arraignment, all six defendants entered their pleas, each denying the allegations and pleading not guilty to the 13-count charge. Issues arose regarding legal representation, as the third defendant informed the court his lawyer was unavailable, and counsel to the sixth defendant highlighted a language barrier, noting his client understood only Arabic and Hausa. The court temporarily stood down the matter to provide an interpreter, ensuring full participation for all accused.

Following the pleas, the prosecution applied for the defendants to be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) and sought an accelerated hearing. While the request for a speedy trial was largely unchallenged, counsel to the first defendant indicated plans to file a bail application, also raising concerns about insufficient access to their clients since their detention, which in some cases, spanned over five months.

In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik granted the request for the defendants to remain in DSS custody and ordered an accelerated hearing in the case. Crucially, the court underscored the defendants’ right to legal representation, directing the DSS to allow their lawyers, and in some accounts, family members, access to the accused within a reasonable time. This directive came amid mounting public pressure for a transparent judicial process and follows previous complaints by families of the detained officers about their relatives being held incommunicado.

The case has been adjourned to April 27, 2026, for the commencement of trial and for the hearing of bail applications. The arraignment and subsequent proceedings reflect heightened public interest in allegations linked to national security, particularly a plot to undermine the constitutional order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.