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 six others over their alleged involvement in a plot to wage war against Nigeria and carry out acts of terrorism.
Also listed as defendants are Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (retd), Captain (NN) Erasmus Victor (retd), Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani. They are scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik. Sylva is reportedly at large.
The charge was filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN). The charge include treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence, and alleged money laundering linked to terrorism financing.
At the centre of the case is an allegation that the defendants conspired in 2025 to undermine the Nigerian state. According to the charge, they allegedly planned to “levy war against the state to overawe the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” an offence said to be punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
Prosecutors further claim that the defendants had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others but failed to inform authorities. They are accused of not promptly reporting the alleged plot to either the President or relevant security agencies, despite being aware of it.
In addition, the charge alleges that the defendants failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the commission of the offence.
The Federal Government is also prosecuting them under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, for allegedly conspiring to commit acts of terrorism within Nigeria.
Specifically, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru are accused of attending meetings linked to terrorist activities, allegedly in pursuit of a political ideology capable of destabilising Nigeria’s constitutional order.
The prosecution further alleges that the defendants provided both direct and indirect support to facilitate acts of terrorism.
The case is expected to proceed with the arraignment of the defendants before the court.
