𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭: 𝐅𝐆 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐬, 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐛𝐮𝐣𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲

The Federal Government on Wednesday arraigned six individuals before the Federal High Court in Abuja over an alleged plot to wage war against Nigeria and overthrow the President, in a case that has continued to draw intense national attention due to its far-reaching implications for the country’s democratic stability and security architecture.

Those arraigned include retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani. The defendants were brought before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik to answer to a 13-count charge bordering on conspiracy, attempt to commit treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence, terrorism financing, and money laundering.

Also named in the charge but yet to be apprehended is former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who is listed as being at large, a development that has further heightened the political and legal weight of the case.

The charges, filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), stem from what the government described as a coordinated effort in 2025 to undermine the Nigerian state. According to the prosecution, the defendants conspired “to levy war against the state to overpower the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” an allegation that places the matter squarely within the most serious category of offences under Nigerian law.

Beyond the allegation of direct conspiracy, the Federal Government also accused the defendants of having prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others, but deliberately failing to report such information to the appropriate authorities. The charge stated that the defendants, “knowing that a treasonable act was intended to be committed, did not give information thereof with all reasonable despatch to either the President… or a Peace Officer.”

The prosecution further alleged that the accused persons failed to take necessary steps to prevent the commission of the alleged offence, maintaining that they “did not use any reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the offence,” thereby positioning them as both participants and enablers in the alleged plot.

Particular attention was drawn to the roles allegedly played by Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru, who were accused of attending meetings connected to the plot. According to the charge, their participation was “in a bid to further a political ideology which may seriously destabilise the constitutional structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” suggesting that the alleged actions were driven by a broader ideological objective.

The prosecution also laid out detailed allegations relating to terrorism financing, outlining a financial trail that it claims links the defendants to unlawful activities. Abdulkadir Sani was accused of receiving N2 million on September 23, 2025, while Bukar Kashim Goni allegedly retained N50 million from accounts associated with A & A Express Link Concept. Zekeri Umoru was said to have received N10 million in cash from Colonel Ma’aji and retained N8.8 million in his account, while Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim allegedly received N1 million from the same source.

According to the government, these funds constituted proceeds of unlawful acts connected to terrorism financing, in violation of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as well as the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Wednesday’s arraignment marks a significant step in a broader investigation into an alleged coup plot that has already led to multiple arrests within Nigeria’s military and security establishments. The case has been unfolding for months, with early signs emerging in October 2025 when the Federal Government abruptly cancelled the Independence Day parade, a move that was later linked in some reports to underlying security concerns, although the Defence Headquarters denied any such connection.

Subsequent developments saw the arrest of 16 military officers, with two others declared wanted, as authorities intensified efforts to uncover the scope of the alleged plot. By January 2026, the Defence Headquarters confirmed that an internal investigation had established the existence of a plan to overthrow President Bola Tinubu, adding that those implicated would face military disciplinary processes.

Parallel to the civilian proceedings in Abuja, the military has initiated steps to try serving personnel allegedly involved through a court martial. Among those reportedly detained are Brigadier General M. A. Sadiq, Colonel M. A. Ma’aji, Lieutenant Colonels S. Bappah, A. A. Hayatu, P. Dangnap, and M. Almakura, alongside several majors, captains, and other officers across different ranks. Sources indicated that the panel is expected to commence proceedings, marking a dual-track prosecution process involving both civilian and military justice systems.

In what has been described as a notable development, detained officers were recently granted access to their lawyers for the first time since their arrest, following months of agitation by their families over restricted access and lack of communication.

Families of the detained officers have continued to demand transparency and fairness in the handling of the case. One of the campaigners, Nana Usman, wife of Lt. Col Sadiq Mohammed, expressed uncertainty over the legal processes, noting that their spouses were not among those arraigned in the Federal High Court but were instead expected to face court-martial proceedings.

She stated that there had been no official communication from the military regarding the status of the detained officers, adding that although access to lawyers was a positive development, it came after several months of denial. She emphasised that the families’ primary concern remains fairness and justice in the proceedings.

Relatives of the detained officers have staged a series of protests, insisting on their right to information, access, and a speedy trial. In one such demonstration, children of some of the officers gathered at the National Assembly, holding placards bearing inscriptions such as “Don’t Kill Our Daddies,” “Detention Without Trial is Injustice,” and “Six Months of Torture: Enough Is Enough,” reflecting the emotional toll of the prolonged detentions.

Legal experts have also weighed in on the implications of the charges, particularly with regard to the potential penalties if the defendants are convicted. Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ahamba, noted that treason-related offences carry the most severe punishments under Nigerian law, including death sentences, life imprisonment, or long-term incarceration depending on the evidence presented.

Similarly, Bankole Akomolafe (SAN) stated that treason generally attracts the death penalty, although judges may exercise discretion to impose lesser sentences in certain circumstances. Other senior lawyers, including Sam Erugo (SAN), Olu Daramola (SAN), and Aare Isiaka Olagunju (SAN), also affirmed that treason remains a capital offence, while noting that all defendants retain the right to appeal up to the Supreme Court.

The detailed charges presented before the court allege in the first count that Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (rtd), Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor (rtd), Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, Abdulkadir Sani, and Timipre Sylva, who is still at large, conspired in 2025 within Abuja to levy war against the state in order to overawe the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, an offence punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.

The second count alleges that the same defendants, having knowledge that Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others intended to commit treason, failed to report the information to the President or a peace officer, contrary to Section 40(b) of the Criminal Code.

In the third count, they were accused of failing to use reasonable efforts to prevent the commission of the said treasonable act, also contrary to Section 40(b) of the Criminal Code.

The fourth count charges the defendants with conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism within Nigeria, in violation of Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The fifth count specifically accuses Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru of participating in meetings connected to acts of terrorism in furtherance of a political ideology capable of destabilising Nigeria’s constitutional structure, contrary to Sections 2(3)(d) and 12(a) of the Act.

The sixth count alleges that the defendants knowingly and indirectly rendered support to Colonel Ma’aji and others to commit acts of terrorism, in violation of Section 13(1)(a) of the Act.

In the seventh count, the defendants were accused of failing to disclose information that could have prevented the commission of terrorism, while the eighth count alleges failure to disclose information that could have aided in the apprehension of those involved.

The ninth count accuses Abdulkadir Sani of retaining N2 million in his Jaiz Bank account, funds believed to be proceeds of terrorism financing, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.

The tenth count alleges that Bukar Kashim Goni retained N50 million in his First Bank account from similar sources.

The eleventh count states that Zekeri Umoru accepted a cash payment of N10 million from Colonel Ma’aji without going through a financial institution, in violation of money laundering regulations.

The twelfth count accuses Umoru of retaining N8.8 million in his Zenith Bank account, funds suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing.

The thirteenth count alleges that Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim took possession of N1 million from Colonel Ma’aji, funds believed to be linked to unlawful activities.

With proceedings now underway, the case is expected to be closely followed across the country, not only because of the high-profile nature of the individuals involved but also due to its broader implications for Nigeria’s legal system, national security framework, and democratic governance. The outcome of the trial is likely to have lasting consequences on public confidence in the rule of law and the government’s response to alleged threats against the state.