Six people, including two retired senior military commanders and a current police officer, are charged with 13 counts by the Federal Government before the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly participating in a scheme to wage war against Nigeria and carry out terrorist actions.
Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (retd), Captain (NN) Erasmus Ochegobia Victor (retd), Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani are among those named in the allegation.
On Wednesday, April 22, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja is expected to arraign the defendants.
Former State Minister for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva is also listed in the accusation but is reportedly at large.
The defendants are charged with offenses ranging from treason and terrorism to failing to divulge security intelligence and money laundering. The charge was submitted by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by Rotimi Oyedepo, Director of Public Prosecutions.
The claim that the defendants plotted to weaken the Nigerian state in 2025 is at the heart of the lawsuit.
They allegedly “conspired with one another to levy war against the state to overawe the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” which is a crime covered by Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
The prosecution further claimed that the defendants neglected to notify authorities despite having previous information of a planned treasonous conduct involving Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others.
According to the indictment, they “did not give the information thereof with all reasonable dispatch to either the President… or a Peace Officer, knowing that it was intended to commit treason.”
They were also charged with neglecting to take preventative measures.
The accusation further stated, “[They] did not use any reasonable endeavors to prevent the commission of the offence.”
The accused are being prosecuted under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, in addition to treason.
They “conspired with one another to commit an act of terrorism in the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” according to the Federal Government.
Zekeri Umoru and Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim were particularly charged with attending gatherings connected to terrorist operations.
They acted “in a bid to further a political ideology which may seriously destabilize the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s constitutional structure,” according to the prosecution.
The suspects were additionally charged with supporting terrorism. They “knowingly and indirectly, rendered support” to enable acts of terror, according to the statement.
The prosecution further claimed that the defendants suppressed intelligence by withholding important information that could have stopped the crimes.
₦50m, Others Associated With Funding Terrorism
Allegations of money laundering connected to financing terrorism are also part of the lawsuit.
It was claimed that Bukar Kashim Goni had “indirectly retained the aggregate sum of ₦50,000,000 which forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: terrorism financing.”
It was alleged that Abdulkadir Sani kept ₦2 million from a comparable source.
According to reports, Zekeri Umoru “accepted a cash payment of the sum of ₦10,000,000 without going through a financial institution” and kept N8.8 million that was allegedly used to finance terrorism.
Additionally, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim was charged with obtaining ₦1 million associated with the purported conspiracy.
The Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 was used to bring any financial-related crimes.
