FG Slams 13-Count Treason, Terror Charges on Sylva, Others Over Alleged Coup Plot
By Paul Ebi
The Federal Government has filed a sweeping 13-count charge before a Federal High Court in Abuja against former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, and six others over an alleged plot to wage war against Nigeria and destabilise the constitutional order.
Also named in the charge are retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Victor, serving police inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, as well as Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.
The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, while Sylva is reportedly at large.
The charge, filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, accuses the defendants of offences ranging from treason and terrorism to failure to disclose critical intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.
Alleged Plot to Undermine the State
At the centre of the case is an allegation that the accused conspired in 2025 to overthrow or intimidate the Nigerian government.
According to court documents, the defendants allegedly “conspired with one another to levy war against the state to overawe the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” an offence punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
The prosecution further claimed the group had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others, but failed to alert authorities.
“They… knowing that treason was intended, did not give the information with all reasonable despatch to either the President or a Peace Officer,” the charge stated.
They are also accused of failing to take preventive action despite allegedly having the capacity to do so.
Terrorism Allegations and Secret MeetingsBeyond treason, the Federal Government is prosecuting the defendants under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Prosecutors alleged that the group “conspired… to commit an act of terrorism” aimed at advancing a political ideology capable of destabilising Nigeria’s constitutional framework.
Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru were specifically accused of attending meetings linked to the alleged terrorist plot.
The charge further alleged that the defendants knowingly provided support—directly or indirectly—to facilitate acts of terror, and deliberately withheld intelligence that could have prevented such acts.
Money Trail: Millions Linked to Alleged Terror Financing
Investigators also traced significant financial transactions allegedly tied to terrorism financing.Bukar Kashim Goni is accused of retaining N50 million believed to be proceeds of unlawful activity, while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly held N2 million from similar sources.
Zekeri Umoru was accused of receiving N10 million in cash outside formal banking channels and retaining an additional N8.8 million suspected to be linked to terrorism financing. Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim was also alleged to have taken possession of N1 million tied to the scheme.
All financial-related charges were brought under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
High-Stakes Trial Ahead
The case is expected to draw intense national attention as it combines allegations of treason, terrorism, and high-level conspiracy involving both political and security figures.
With one of the प्रमुख defendants still at large and multiple security operatives implicated, the proceedings may test Nigeria’s legal and security institutions in handling one of the most serious allegations of internal subversion in recent years.
