Court Orders Detention of Six Over Alleged Coup Against Tinubu, Sets Trial Date

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has directed that six individuals accused of conspiring to remove President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from office be remanded, while scheduling April 27 as the date for the start of their trial.

The ruling came after a request by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who represented the federal government in the matter.

The defendants, who are facing a 13-count charge involving allegations such as treason, financing terrorism, withholding security information, and money laundering, all entered not guilty pleas to the charges brought against them.

Following their arraignment, the AGF requested that the case be fast-tracked, a move the court approved.

However, when some defence lawyers attempted to seek bail orally, Justice Abdulmalik declined the request, insisting that proper written applications must be submitted.

The court subsequently ordered that the accused persons be held in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) and granted their legal representatives access to them to ensure adequate preparation for their defence.

Those listed in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026 include retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.

One of the accused, Gana, appeared in court in a wheelchair due to his age and health condition.

Sunusi Musa (SAN), counsel to Abdulkadir Sani Zaria, praised the AGF for recommending DSS custody, noting that his client had been treated respectfully and allowed access to legal counsel, unlike past experiences under the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), where he claimed detainees were denied such access.

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 suspects allegedly conspired in Abuja in 2025 to wage war against the state with the aim of toppling President Tinubu, an offence punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.

Breakdown of the Charges

The first count accuses the defendants, alongside Timpre Sylva (currently at large) and others, of plotting in 2025 to wage war against the state in a bid to intimidate or overpower the president, in violation of Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.

Count Two states that the accused, despite being aware of plans by Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others to commit treason, failed to report the information to the appropriate authorities, contrary to Section 40(b) of the Criminal Code.

In Count Three, they are alleged to have neglected to take reasonable steps to prevent the planned treasonable act, also breaching Section 40(b) of the Criminal Code.

Count Four charges them with conspiracy to carry out terrorist activities within Nigeria, contrary to Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Under Count Five, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru are specifically accused of knowingly attending meetings linked to terrorist activities aimed at promoting a political agenda capable of destabilising Nigeria’s constitutional order, in violation of Sections 2(3)(d) and 12(a) of the Act.

Count Six alleges that all defendants provided support—either directly or indirectly—for terrorist acts allegedly planned by Colonel Ma’aji and others, contrary to Section 13(1)(a) of the same law.

Counts Seven and Eight accuse the defendants of failing to disclose critical information that could have helped prevent terrorist acts or led to the arrest of suspects, in violation of Sections 6(1)(a) and 16(1)(b) of the Terrorism Act.

Count Nine alleges that Abdulkadir Sani kept N2 million in a Jaiz Bank account suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In Count Ten, Bukar Kashim Goni is accused of retaining N50 million in a First Bank account believed to be linked to unlawful activities connected to terrorism financing.

Count Eleven alleges that Zekeri Umoru accepted N10 million in cash from Colonel Ma’aji outside a financial institution, in violation of the Money Laundering Act.

Count Twelve further claims that Umoru held N8.8 million in a Zenith Bank account suspected to be tied to terrorism financing.

Finally, Count Thirteen accuses Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim of receiving N1 million from Colonel Ma’aji, funds believed to be connected to unlawful acts aimed at waging war against the state.

The alleged offences are said to violate provisions of the Criminal Code, the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The matter has been adjourned until April 27 for the commencement of trial.