The federal government has filed a 13-count charge against seven suspects linked to an alleged plot to forcefully overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, terrorise the citizens, and sack democratic governance.

Specifically, the defendants in Suit No FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026 are accused of waging a war against Nigeria and committing acts bordering on treason and terrorism.

Six of the alleged coup plotters were jointly investigated by the Nigerian military and the Department of State Services (DSS); while the seventh, former Governor of Bayelsa state, Timipre Sylva, is on the run and being tried in absentia.

Also being arraigned for trial in the suit filed on behalf of the federal government by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, are retired Major-General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Navy Captain Victor Erasmus Ochegobia, a former Governor Sylva, and a serving police Inspector, Ahmed Ibrahim.

The others are Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.

 *The charges

 The charges filed against them include treasonable felony, conspiracy to overthrow the government, conspiracy to commit terrorism and other offenses related to national security threats. 

Count one of the charge reads: “That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA (RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR (RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM (AP776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, TIMPRE SYLVA (still at large) and others, sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired with one another to levy war against the state to overawe the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 37(2) of the code cap 38 LFN 2004.”

Count two reads: “That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA (RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR (RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM (AP776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, TIMPRE SYLVA (still at large) and others, sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowing that COLONEL MOHAMMED ALHASSAN MA’AJI (N/10668) and others intended to commit treason, did not give the information thereof with all reasonable dispatch to either the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, or a Peace Officer and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 40(b) of the Criminal Code Cap C38 LFN 2004.”

Count three reads: “That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA (RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR (RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM (AP776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, TIMPRE SYLVA (still at large) and others, sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, knowing that COLONEL MOHAMMED ALHASSAN MA AJI (N/10668), and others intended to commit treason, did not use any reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the offence and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 40(b) of the Criminal Code Cap C 38 (LFN) 2004.”

Count four reads: That MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA (RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR (RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM (AP776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONE ABDULKADIR SANI, TIMPRE SYLVA (still at large) and others, sometime in the year 2025 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honorable court conspired with one another to commit an act of terrorism against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

Count five reads: “That you, INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM (AP 776373) AND ZEKERI UMORU, sometime in the year 2025 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, in a bid to further a political ideology which may seriously destabilise the constitutional structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, knowingly participated in meetings connected with an act of terrorism and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 2(3)(d) and 12(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

Count six reads: “That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA (RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR (RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM (AP 776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, AND TIMPRE SYLVA (still at large), sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly and indirectly, rendered support to COLONEL MOHAMMED ALHASSAN MA’AJI (N/10668) and others, to commit an act of terrorism, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 13(1) (a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

Count seven reads: “That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA (RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR (RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM (AP 776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, AND TIMPRE SYLVA (still at large), sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court had information which you knew would be of material assistance in preventing the commission of the act of terrorism by COLONEL MOHAMMED ALHASSAN MA’AJI (N/10668), and others, failed to disclose the information to the relevant agency as soon as practicable, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 16(1)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

Count Eight reads: “That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA (RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR (RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM (AP 776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, AND TIMPRE SYLVA (still at large), sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court had information which you knew would be of material assistance in securing the apprehension of COLONEL MOHAMMED ALHASSAN MA’AJI (N/10668), and others for an offence of terrorism, failed to disclose the information to the relevant agency as soon as practicable, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 16(1)(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

Count nine reads: “That you, ABDULKADIR SANI, on or about the September 23, 2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, indirectly retained the sum of N2 million only in your Jaiz Bank Account Number 0005620270 from A & A Express Link Concept, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: terrorism financing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 1 8 (3) of the same Act.”

Count 10 reads: “That you, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, in September, 2025, In Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, indirectly retained the aggregate sum of N50,000,000.00(Fifty Million Naira) only in your First Bank Account Number 3021511166 from A & A Express Link Concept, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: terrorism financing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) o f the same Act.”

Count 11 reads: “That you, ZEKERI UMORU, in September, 2025, in Abuja, within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, without going through a financial institution accepted a cash payment of the sum of N10 million) only from Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Maa’aji and thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 2(1)(a) and 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) o f the same Act.”

Count 12 reads: “That you, ZEKERI UMORU, in September, 2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, indirectly retained the aggregate sum of N8,8million only in your Zenith Bank PIc Account Number 2006041878, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: terrorism financing, and thereby committed a n offence contrary to Section 18 (2)(d) o f the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.”

Count 13 reads: “That you, INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM, in September, 2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, directly took possession of the sum of N1 million only from COLONEL MOHAMMED ALHASSAN MA’AJI (N/10668), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to terrorism financing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.”

*The coup rumour

  In October 2025, the federal government announced ter, reports filtered out that the cancellation of the independence anniversary event was linked to an alleged coup attempt, but the DHQ dismissed the reports

On October 31, 2025, it was reported that 16 military officers were arrested in the first week of the month over the alleged coup attempt, while two other officers were on the run.

In January 2026, the defence headquarters (DHQ) confirmed that there was a plot to overthrow Tinubu. (Blueprint)