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Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has been arraigned in absentia alongside five others over an alleged plot to overthrow the Federal Government, with prosecutors confirming that the former minister remains at large.
The six defendants will appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 13-count charge bordering on conspiracy, attempted treason, terrorism financing, money laundering and failure to disclose security intelligence.
Those arraigned are retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.
Sylva was listed as a defendant in the charge.
The case is before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
According to the charge filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the defendants allegedly conspired in 2025 to “levy war against the state to overpower the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Prosecutors further alleged that the accused had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others but failed to report it to the authorities or take steps to prevent it.
Part of the prosecution’s case is that some of the defendants attended meetings linked to efforts aimed at advancing a political agenda capable of destabilising Nigeria’s constitutional order.
They are also accused of indirectly supporting acts of terrorism and withholding critical intelligence from security agencies.
Financial transactions linked to the alleged plot also form a key part of the charges.
Abdulkadir Sani is accused of receiving N2m in September 2025, while Bukar Kashim Goni allegedly retained N50m from accounts said to be connected to A & A Express Link Concept.
Zekeri Umoru is alleged to have received N10m in cash and retained N8.8m, while Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim allegedly received N1m from the same source.
The charges were filed under relevant provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The arraignment follows months of investigations into an alleged coup plot within military and security circles.
In October 2025, the Federal Government cancelled the Independence Day parade, a move that drew speculation about security concerns, although the Defence Headquarters denied any link to coup threats.
Subsequent developments saw at least 16 serving military officers arrested, with two others declared wanted.
In January 2026, the Defence Headquarters said an internal investigation had uncovered a plan to overthrow President Bola Tinubu and confirmed that those implicated would face disciplinary processes.
Several of the detained officers are expected to face a court martial, which sources say is being constituted, while some of those in custody have now been granted access to legal representation.
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