Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the remand of six individuals accused of conspiring to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu, after they pleaded not guilty to a 13‑count charge of treason, terrorism, financing of terrorism, and suppression of intelligence. Presiding Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted an application by the Attorney‑General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), for an accelerated hearing, fixed the commencement of trial for Monday, April 27, 2026, and directed that the defendants be kept in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) pending the trial. The court also allowed their lawyers access to them for the preparation of their defence.
The arraignment, which had been scheduled for noon, began shortly before 2:00 p.m. after the court was informed that the third defendant’s counsel was indisposed and that the sixth defendant, a Kaduna‑based Islamic cleric, understood only Arabic and Hausa. An interpreter was quickly provided, and all six took their pleas. The charge sheet, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026, accuses the defendants of levying war against the state and conspiring to overawe the president, an offence punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code. They are also accused of having prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji but failing to alert the authorities, as well as participating in meetings linked to terrorist activities and receiving funds for the financing of terrorism.
Among those docked are Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (retired), who appeared in a wheelchair because of ill health and old age; Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor (retired); Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, a serving police officer; Zekeri Umoru, an electrician employed at the Presidential Villa; Bukar Kashim Goni, a civilian; and Abdulkadir Sani, the Islamic cleric. A seventh person, former Bayelsa State Governor and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, was named in the charge but is said to be at large.
The federal government’s legal team, led by the Attorney‑General himself, requested the remand of the defendants in DSS custody and the expedited hearing of the case. Justice Abdulmalik rejected oral applications for bail made by some defence counsel, insisting that formal applications must be filed. She also ordered that the defendants be given access to their lawyers to allow them to prepare their defence.
Rumours of the coup plot first emerged in October 2025, when the government abruptly cancelled a planned military parade to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, citing security threats. At the time, officials dismissed speculation linking the cancellation to a coup attempt. However, in January 2026, the Defence Headquarters confirmed that an investigation had uncovered a conspiracy to overthrow the president, and at least 16 military officers were arrested. The identity of the alleged mastermind, Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji, was revealed later.
The arraignment was briefly delayed after the third defendant, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, informed the court that his counsel was indisposed. Shortly after, the sixth defendant, Sheikh Abdulkadir Sani, said through an interpreter that he understood only Arabic and Hausa. The court stood the matter down to secure a Hausa interpreter, after which all six defendants entered their pleas of not guilty.
One of the defence counsel, Sunusi Musa (SAN), who appeared for Sheikh Sani, thanked the Attorney‑General for requesting the defendants’ remand in DSS custody rather than in a military detention facility. He said the DSS had been “very civil and respectful” of his client’s rights, especially after he was moved from the detention centre of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), where, according to the lawyer, no one was allowed access to detainees.
The charges include specific financial allegations. Bukar Kashim Goni is accused of retaining N50 million linked to terrorism financing, while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly retained N2 million from a similar source. Zekeri Umoru is accused of accepting a cash payment of N10 million without going through a financial institution and also retaining an additional N8.8 million suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing. Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim was also accused of taking possession of N1 million linked to the same alleged scheme.
Nigeria has not experienced a successful coup since the return to civilian rule in 1999. However, the region has witnessed a surge in military takeovers in recent years, with coups or attempted coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea, and most recently in Benin and Guinea‑Bissau. The alleged plot in Nigeria follows a pattern often marked by disputed elections, constitutional upheaval, and security crises.
The federal government’s case relies heavily on the alleged central role of Colonel Ma’aji, who remains in detention. Prosecutors say the six defendants, along with Sylva, “conspired with one another to levy war against the state to overawe the president.” In addition to treason, they face terrorism charges under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and money laundering charges under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The trial is set to begin on April 27, when the court will also hear the bail applications of the defendants. With an accelerated hearing ordered, the case is expected to proceed swiftly. If convicted, the defendants face severe penalties, including life imprisonment.
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