The Federal Government has filed a 13-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja against former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, a retired Major General, a retired Naval Captain, a serving police inspector, and several others over their alleged involvement in a plot to wage war against Nigeria and commit acts of terrorism.
Defendants listed in court
The accused persons include Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (retd), Captain (NN) Erasmus Victor (retd), Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.
They are scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court.
Timipre Sylva, who served under the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, is currently said to be at large.
Allegations of treason and terrorism
The charge was filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
It alleges offences ranging from treason and terrorism to failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2025 to undermine the Nigerian state.
They were accused of planning 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.
Failure to report alleged plot
The Federal Government also claimed that the defendants had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others but failed to report it to authorities.
They were further accused of failing to take reasonable steps to prevent the alleged offence.
Terrorism financing allegations
Beyond treason, the defendants are also facing terrorism-related charges under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Prosecutors alleged that they conspired to support and facilitate acts of terrorism, with claims that some meetings were held to advance activities capable of destabilising Nigeria’s constitutional structure.
Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru were specifically accused of participating in meetings linked to terrorist planning.
Money laundering claims
The charge also includes allegations of terrorism financing and unlawful financial dealings.
Bukar Kashim Goni is accused of retaining ₦50 million suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing.
Abdulkadir Sani allegedly retained ₦2 million, while Zekeri Umoru is accused of handling ₦10 million in cash payments and an additional ₦8.8 million.
Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim was also accused of receiving ₦1 million allegedly linked to the scheme.
All financial-related counts were brought under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Context
Nigeria has maintained uninterrupted democratic governance since 1999, with peaceful transitions of power over the years. However, concerns over security, insurgency, and alleged coup-related activities continue to surface in political and security discourse.