The Federal Government has filed a 13-count charge before the Federal High Court Abuja against former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, alongside a retired Major General, a retired Naval Captain, a serving police inspector, and three others over an alleged plot to wage war against Nigeria and commit acts of terrorism.
Also listed in the charge are Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (retd), Captain Erasmus Victor (retd), Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani. The defendants are expected to be arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, while Sylva is reportedly at large.
The charges, filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), include allegations of treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence, and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.
According to the government, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2025 to undermine the Nigerian state. Prosecutors claim they planned to “levy war against the state” in a bid to overawe the President, an offence under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
The charge further alleges that the accused had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving other individuals but failed to notify authorities or take steps to prevent it.
Beyond treason, the defendants are also facing prosecution under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, for allegedly participating in activities aimed at destabilising Nigeria’s constitutional order. Some of them, particularly Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru, are accused of attending meetings linked to the alleged plot.
The government also claims that the defendants provided indirect support for terrorism and deliberately withheld intelligence that could have helped prevent the alleged acts.
Financial allegations form a key part of the case. Bukar Goni is accused of handling about ₦50 million believed to be proceeds of terrorism financing, while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly retained ₦2 million. Zekeri Umoru is said to have received ₦10 million in cash outside the banking system and held an additional ₦8.8 million, while Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim allegedly took possession of ₦1 million tied to the scheme.
All financial-related charges were brought under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The case adds to growing concerns around national security, although Nigeria has maintained uninterrupted democratic rule since 1999, unlike some countries in the region that have experienced military takeovers in recent years.
