- FG Files Treason Charges Against Timipre Sylva, Others Over Alleged Coup Plot
- Six defendants including ex military officers to face trial
- Charges include treason, terrorism and money laundering
The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, April 22, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik in Abuja.
Also named in the charge but said to be at large is former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the charge, filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo, accuses the defendants of offences ranging from treason and terrorism to failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering.
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2025 to undermine the Nigerian state.
The charge stated that they “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.
It further alleged that the defendants had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others but failed to inform authorities.
The charge stated that they, “knowing that it was intended to commit treason, did not give the information thereof with all reasonable despatch to either the President or a Peace Officer.”
“They did not use any reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the offence,” it added.
Beyond treason, the defendants are also being prosecuted under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, for allegedly conspiring to commit acts of terrorism in Nigeria.
Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru were specifically accused of attending meetings linked to terrorist activities in furtherance of a political ideology that could destabilise the country.
The prosecution also alleged that the defendants “knowingly and indirectly rendered support” to facilitate acts of terrorism and suppressed intelligence that could have prevented such acts.
The case includes allegations of terrorism financing and money laundering.
Bukar Kashim Goni was accused of retaining ₦50 million believed to be proceeds of terrorism financing, while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly retained ₦2 million from similar sources.
Zekeri Umoru was said to have accepted ₦10 million in cash outside formal financial channels and retained ₦8.8 million suspected to be linked to the scheme.
Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim was also accused of taking possession of ₦1 million connected to the alleged activities.
All financial related charges were filed under the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
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