JUST IN: Suspected coup plotters will be tried, as proposed by the Nigerian government

The Federal Government has filed 13 treason charges against alleged coup plotters who allegedly planned to overthrow the recent government of President Bola Tinubu.

About 40 suspects including active and retired military personnel, a police inspector, civilians and financiers, are scheduled to be tried tomorrow (Wednesday), April 22, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Those named in the indictment are Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (rtd), Captain (NN) Erasmus Ochegobia Victor (rtd), Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.

Also listed as a defendant, but said to still be at large, is former State Minister for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.

The indictment, filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, accuses the defendants of offenses ranging from treason and terrorism to failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering related to the financing of terrorism.

At the heart of the case is the allegation that the defendants conspired in 2025 to weaken the Nigerian state.

According to the indictment, they “conspired with each other to wage war against the state to impress the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” an offense punishable under Article 37(2) of the Criminal Code.

The prosecutor further alleged that the defendants had prior knowledge of the treasonous plot involving Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others but did not inform the authorities.

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The indictment states that they, “knowing the matter and intending to commit treason, did not provide information concerning the matter reasonably to the President or the Peace Officers.”

In another indictment, the defendants are accused of failing to take preventive measures, as they allegedly “did not make reasonable efforts to prevent the commission of the offense.”

The Federal Government also tried the accused for terrorism-related offenses under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The indictment alleges that they “conspired with each other to commit acts of terrorism in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

In particular, Inspectors Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru were accused of participating in meetings related to terrorist activities.

Prosecutors stated that they acted “in an effort to advance a political ideology that may seriously undermine the stability of the constitutional structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The indictment also accuses the defendants of providing support for terrorism, and alleges that they “knowingly and indirectly provided support” to facilitate acts of terror.

Additionally, prosecutors alleged deliberate suppression of intelligence, stating that the defendants “had information that could have helped prevent the commission of acts of terrorism but failed to disclose that information to the relevant agencies as soon as possible.”

This case further explores financial transactions allegedly related to the financing of terrorism, with several defendants accused of handling the proceeds of unlawful activities.

Bukar Kashim Goni allegedly “indirectly withheld the sum of N50,000,000, which was part of the proceeds of unlawful acts, namely: terrorism financing,” while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly withheld N2 million from a similar source.

Zekeri Umoru, according to the indictment, “without going through a financial institution received cash payments in the amount of N10,000,000,” and also retained an additional N8.8 million allegedly to be proceeds of terrorism financing.

Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim was also accused of confiscating N1 million in connection with the same alleged scheme.

All financial related accounts are filed under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The 13-count indictment presents what prosecutors describe as a coordinated network involving security personnel, civilians and politically connected individuals, allegedly linked to activities that threatened national security.