Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Six suspects, including two retired senior military officers and a serving police inspector, will today be arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja over an alleged plot to overthrow the Nigerian government.
The defendants — retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani — are to appear before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, is also listed in the charge but is currently at large.
The Federal Government has slammed the defendants with a 13-count charge bordering on conspiracy, attempted treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence, and money laundering.
According to the charge filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, the accused allegedly conspired in 2025 to “levy war against the state” and destabilise Nigeria’s constitutional order.
Prosecutors further alleged that the defendants had prior knowledge of a planned coup but failed to report or prevent it. Some were also said to have attended meetings linked to the plot and handled funds suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing.
The case is part of a widening investigation into an alleged coup plot that has already led to arrests within military and security circles.
While the civilian suspects face trial in court, several serving military officers are expected to be tried separately by court-martial. Sources say the military panel is set to begin proceedings immediately.
Families of detained officers have continued to demand transparency, a fair trial, and access to their loved ones, many of whom were held for months without contact.
Legal experts warn that the stakes are extremely high. Senior advocates say treason-related offences remain capital crimes under Nigerian law, with penalties ranging from long-term imprisonment to life sentences — or even death if fully proven.
Below are the charges as filed:
CHARGES AGAINST DEFENDANTS
COUNT 1
“That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA (RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR (RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM (AP776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, TIMIPRE SYLVA (still at large), and others, sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired with one another to levy war against the state to overawe the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code Cap C38 LFN 2004.
COUNT 2
“That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA (RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR (RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM (AP776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, TIMIPRE SYLVA (still at large), and others, sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowing that COLONEL MOHAMMED ALHASSAN MA’AJI (N/10668) and others intended to commit treason, did not give information thereof with all reasonable despatch to either the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or a peace officer, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 40(b) of the Criminal Code Cap C38 LFN 2004.
COUNT 3
“That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA (RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR (RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM (AP776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, TIMIPRE SYLVA (still at large), and others, sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowing that COLONEL MOHAMMED ALHASSAN MA’AJI (N/10668) and others intended to commit treason, did not use all reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the offence, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 40(b) of the Criminal Code Cap C38 LFN 2004.
COUNT 4
“That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA (RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR (RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM (AP776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, TIMIPRE SYLVA (still at large), and others, sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired with one another to commit an act of terrorism in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
COUNT 5
“That you, INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM (AP776373) and ZEKERI UMORU, sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, in a bid to further a political ideology which may seriously destabilise the constitutional structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, knowingly participated in meetings connected with an act of terrorism, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 2(3)(d) and 12(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
COUNT 6
“That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA (RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR (RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM (AP776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, and TIMIPRE SYLVA (still at large), sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly and indirectly rendered support to COLONEL MOHAMMED ALHASSAN MA’AJI (N/10668) and others to commit an act of terrorism, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 13(1)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
COUNT 7
“That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA (RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR (RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM (AP776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, and TIMIPRE SYLVA (still at large), sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had information which you knew would be of material assistance in preventing the commission of an act of terrorism by COLONEL MOHAMMED ALHASSAN MA’AJI (N/10668) and others, but failed to disclose the information to the relevant agency as soon as practicable, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 6(1)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
COUNT 8
“That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA (RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR (RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM (AP776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, and TIMIPRE SYLVA (still at large), sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had information which you knew would be of material assistance to securing the apprehension of COLONEL MOHAMMED ALHASSAN MA’AJI (N/10668) and others for an offence of terrorism, but failed to disclose the information to the relevant agency as soon as practicable, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 16(1)(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
COUNTS 9–13
(Charges detailing the alleged receipt and retention of funds linked to terrorism financing, including N2m, N50m, N10m, N8.8m, and N1m transactions through various accounts and cash payments, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.)
