Nigeria’s federal authorities have filed treason and related charges against six individuals, including a retired military officer and a serving police inspector, over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu last year.
The Attorney General brought the case before the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the accused are expected to appear on Wednesday, April 22, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
A seventh suspect, former Bayelsa State governor and ex-oil minister Timipre Sylva, has also been named in the court documents but is currently reported to be on the run.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants allegedly conspired to “levy war against the state to overawe” the President. The case also includes additional allegations of terrorism financing, money laundering, and failure to report knowledge of the alleged plot.
Those charged include a mix of retired security personnel, a serving police inspector, a civilian, a cleric, and a Presidential Villa technician. The full list comprises:
Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired major general
Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, retired navy captain
Ahmed Ibrahim, police inspector
Zekeri Umoru, Presidential Villa electrician
Bukar Kashim Goni, civilian
Abdulkadir Sani, Islamic cleric
Prosecutors allege that the group had prior knowledge of activities linked to the suspected coup leader, Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji, who was earlier arrested alongside other alleged accomplices. They are also accused of failing to alert authorities, thereby allegedly allowing the plan to progress.
The case traces back to heightened security concerns in October 2025, when the government abruptly cancelled Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary military parade. At the time, officials cited security threats, though speculation soon emerged about a possible coup attempt—claims the military publicly dismissed.
By January 2026, however, the armed forces confirmed that 16 officers were facing trial in a separate military process over allegations connected to an attempted overthrow of government. It remains unclear how the civilian court proceedings now underway relate to those military trials.
Timipre Sylva, one of the individuals named in the current case, previously denied any involvement after his residence was searched in October. His spokesperson later said he was abroad for medical reasons and described the allegations as politically driven.
Under Nigerian law, treason is among the most serious offences, carrying penalties that can include life imprisonment.
Nigeria has remained under uninterrupted civilian rule since 1999, with the military consistently reaffirming its loyalty to constitutional governance despite periodic security-related tensions and investigations.
