The Federal Government has filed a 13-count charge bordering on treason, terrorism and money laundering against seven individuals, including former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, over an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of Bola Tinubu.
The charge, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, also listed a retired Major General, Mohammed Ibrahim Gana; a retired Naval Captain, Erasmus Ochegobia Victor; a serving Police Inspector, Ahmed Ibrahim; as well as Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani as defendants.
Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa State, was named in the suit but is said to be at large.
The case was signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.
According to the charge, the defendants allegedly conspired to levy war against the Nigerian state in a bid to overawe the President, an offence punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
They were also accused of having prior knowledge of a planned coup involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others but failed to inform the appropriate authorities.
The government further alleged that the defendants deliberately refused to disclose intelligence on the plot to either the President or security agencies, and did not take reasonable steps to prevent the act.
In addition, the charge included terrorism-related offences under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The Federal Government claimed the defendants conspired to commit acts of terrorism aimed at destabilising Nigeria’s constitutional structure.
Inspector Ibrahim and Umoru were specifically accused of attending meetings linked to the alleged terrorist activities.
The prosecution also accused the defendants of providing material and financial support for terrorism.
It alleged that Goni retained N50 million suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing, while Sani allegedly held N2 million from a similar source.
Umoru was accused of accepting N10 million in cash outside the banking system and retaining an additional N8.8 million linked to the alleged scheme.
Inspector Ibrahim was also said to have taken possession of N1 million connected to the transactions.
All financial-related charges were brought under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The defendants are expected to be arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
The allegations are linked to earlier reports of a coup plot that surfaced in October 2025, when the Federal Government cancelled the planned military parade for Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary over security concerns.
Although the military initially denied any coup attempt, it later announced in January that 16 officers would face a military trial for allegedly attempting to overthrow the government.
It remains unclear whether the current charges are separate from the ongoing military proceedings.
Sylva had earlier denied any involvement in a coup plot after his residence was searched by investigators in October.
An arrest warrant was subsequently issued for him in a separate case by anti-corruption authorities.
His spokesman had said he was in the United Kingdom for medical reasons and described the allegations as politically motivated.
Efforts to get official reactions from his associates were unsuccessful, as they declined comment.
However, a source close to the former minister said caution was necessary when speaking on the matter, citing ongoing scrutiny by authorities.
Meanwhile, a Bayelsa elder, Joseph Ambakederimo, urged that the case should not be politicised.
He said anyone found culpable should face the law but stressed that the prosecution must prove its case beyond reasonable doubt in an open and fair trial.
He added that allowing the court to handle the matter transparently would ensure that justice is served.
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