FG Files Treason Charges Against Timipre Sylva, Others Over Alleged Coup Plot Against Tinubu
The Federal Government has filed a 13-count charge bordering on treason against six individuals over an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through a coup d’état.
The charge, obtained by PulseNets, was filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN. It names former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, alongside retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani as defendants.
PulseNets learnt that Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa State, was said to be at large at the time the charge was filed.
According to details reported by PulseNets, the Federal Government accused the defendants of conspiring to levy war against the Nigerian state in a bid to intimidate or overawe the President, an offence punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
They were also alleged to have had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others but failed to report the development to the appropriate authorities.
Further findings told to PulseNets indicate that the defendants neither disclosed the information promptly nor took reasonable steps to prevent the alleged offence.
In addition to treason, the charge sheet includes terrorism-related offences under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Prosecutors alleged that the defendants conspired to execute acts aimed at destabilising Nigeria’s constitutional framework in pursuit of a political ideology.
PulseNets reported that some of the accused were linked to meetings associated with terrorist activities, while others were alleged to have provided material or financial support for terrorism operations.
The government further alleged that Goni retained N50 million suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing, while Sani allegedly held N2 million traced to a similar source.
Umoru was accused of receiving N10 million in cash outside the banking system and retaining an additional N8.8 million linked to the same scheme, while Inspector Ibrahim was said to have possessed N1 million tied to the alleged operation.
All financial-related charges were filed under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The defendants are expected to be arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court.
Speculation surrounding a coup plot first surfaced in October 2025 after the Federal Government cancelled a planned military parade to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, citing security concerns. Although the military initially denied any such development, it later announced in January that 16 officers would face court martial over an alleged attempt to overthrow the President.
It remains unclear whether the present charges are connected to or distinct from the ongoing military proceedings.
Timipre Sylva has previously denied any involvement in a coup plot, describing the allegations as politically motivated following a search of his residence by investigators. An arrest warrant was also issued against him in a separate matter by the anti-corruption agency.
Also Read: Fainting of malnourished minors facing treason charges staged to attract attention — IGP
Meanwhile, reactions from his associates have remained limited. One associate, who spoke to PulseNets on condition of anonymity, urged caution, citing the sensitivity of the allegations.
A Bayelsa elder and convener of the South South Reawakening Group, Joseph Ambakederimo, called for due process, stressing that the matter should not be politicised and that the court must be allowed to determine the case strictly on the basis of evidence.
