— Retired Major General, Naval Captain, Serving Police Inspector, Three Others Named in Explosive Treason, Terrorism Financing Case The F...
— Retired Major General, Naval Captain, Serving Police Inspector, Three Others Named in Explosive Treason, Terrorism Financing Case
The Federal Government has dragged a group of high-profile Nigerians before the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a dramatic 13-count criminal charge over an alleged conspiracy to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Among those named in the suit are retired Major General Mohammed Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Victor, serving Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani. Also mentioned in the charge sheet—though reportedly at large—is former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.
Filed on Monday by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the charges border on allegations of treason, terrorism, terrorism financing, money laundering, and failure to disclose security intelligence.
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2025 “to levy war against the state to overpower the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” an offence said to be punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
They are also accused of having prior knowledge of an alleged treasonable plan involving a military officer, yet failed to report same to security authorities.
The Federal Government further alleged that some of the accused attended covert meetings linked to what it described as an attempt to advance a political ideology capable of destabilising Nigeria’s constitutional order.
In addition, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru were specifically accused of participating in meetings allegedly connected to the plot, while several defendants are also facing accusations of providing indirect support to terrorism activities.
Financial allegations also feature prominently in the charge sheet. Bukar Kashim Goni is accused of retaining ₦50 million suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing, while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly retained ₦2 million from similar sources.
Zekeri Umoru is alleged to have received ₦10 million in cash outside the banking system and retained an additional ₦8.8 million suspected to be linked to illicit activities, while Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim was said to have handled ₦1 million allegedly derived from terrorism financing.
The case follows heightened political tension after Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day parade was cancelled in October 2025, sparking rumours of an attempted coup—claims later denied by the Defence Headquarters. However, military authorities in January 2026 confirmed that some officers were under investigation for alleged involvement in a coup plot.
The Defence Headquarters has since stated that detained suspects will face military judicial proceedings, while families of the accused officers and rights activists continue to demand open trial and transparency.
The court is expected to fix a date for arraignment as the high-stakes case continues to generate national attention.
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