FG Files 13-Count Charge Against Timipre Sylva at Large; Five Other Alleged Coup Plotters in Custody

The Federal Government has filed a 13-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja against former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva and five other individuals over an alleged plot to “wage war against the state” and commit acts linked to terrorism.

Those listed in the charge include retired Major General Mohammed Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Victor, serving police inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani. They are scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, April 22, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

Also named in the charge, but said to be at large, is former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.

The charge, filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), alleged that the defendants conspired in 2025 “to levy war against the state to overpower the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Prosecutors also alleged that the defendants had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act but failed to report it to security authorities.

According to the charge, they “knowing that a treasonable act was intended to be committed, did not give information thereof with all reasonable despatch to either the President… or a peace officer.”

They were further accused of failing to act to prevent the alleged offence, as the filing stated that they “did not use any reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the offence.”

Beyond treason allegations, the defendants are also facing charges under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The prosecution said they “conspired with one another to commit an act of terrorism in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru were specifically accused of attending meetings linked to the alleged plot, “in a bid to further a political ideology which may seriously destabilise the constitutional structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The charge further alleged that the defendants “knowingly and indirectly rendered support” for activities linked to terrorism.

It also stated that some of them failed to disclose critical intelligence, noting that they “had information which would be of material assistance in preventing the commission of the act of terrorism, but failed to disclose the information to the relevant agency as soon as practicable.”

On the financial allegations, prosecutors said Bukar Kashim Goni allegedly “indirectly retained the aggregate sum of ₦50,000,000, which forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: terrorism financing,” while Abdulkadir Sani was accused of retaining ₦2 million from similar sources.

Zekeri Umoru was also alleged to have “without going through a financial institution accepted a cash payment of the sum of ₦10,000,000,” and further retained ₦8.8 million suspected to be linked to terrorism financing.

Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, according to the charge, also took possession of “the sum of ₦1,000,000, being part of proceeds of terrorism financing.”

The matter is expected to proceed before the Federal High Court in Abuja as the government moves to prosecute the alleged offences tied to national security threats.

(Daily Sun)