Nigeria charges six people with treason over Independence Day coup plot

Six people in Nigeria, including a retired major general and a serving police inspector, have been charged with treason for attempting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu in a coup last year. The charges were filed by the Attorney General at the Federal High Court in the capital, Abuja, where the defendants are due to appear before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on Wednesday.

A seventh person - a former governor and one-time oil minister, Timipre Sylva - was also named but the court documents said he was still at large.

Rumours of the coup plot first surfaced in October 2025 when the government abruptly cancelled a planned military parade to mark Nigeria's 65th Independence Anniversary. At the time, officials cited security threats - but speculation quickly linked the cancellation to a possible coup plot. The military denied the suggestion, but in January it announced that 16 officers were to be tried before a military court for attempting to oust the president.

It is unclear whether the charges filed in the Federal High Court, which also include terrorism and money laundering, are in addition to the military prosecutions.

Those named in the Attorney General's case are: Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, a retired major general; Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, a retired navy captain; Ahmed Ibrahim, a police inspector; Zekeri Umoru, an electrician working at the Presidential Villa; Bukar Kashim Goni, a civilian; and Abdulkadir Sani, an Islamic cleric.

According to the charge sheet, the six defendants, who have yet to comment on the allegations, "conspired with one another to levy war against the state to overawe" the president. The court papers suggest that coup plot was led by Col Mohammed Alhassan Ma'aji, who was arrested along with other accomplices.

Prosecutors also allege the defendants had prior knowledge of the Col Ma'aji's "treasonable act", but failed to inform authorities. The charges include the suppression of intelligence, with prosecutors alleging the defendants were intent on destabilising the state and failed to disclose information that could have helped prevent terrorism.

Money-laundering allegations form a significant part of the case - with accusations that money changed hands linked to the financing of terrorism.

Under Nigerian law, treason is one of the most serious criminal offences and can attract severe penalties, including life imprisonment. Nigeria has experienced a period of unbroken civilian rule since 1999. The armed forces have consistently stressed their loyalty to civilian authority, often issuing public statements reaffirming their commitment to democracy.