Nigeria’s Federal Government arraigned five defendants Wednesday before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik in Abuja’s Federal High Court on 13 counts of treason, terrorism, and money laundering tied to a 2025 plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu.
Court Proceedings
The defendants—retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Captain Erasmus Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, and Bukar Goni—pleaded not guilty. AGF Lateef Fagbemi personally prosecuted, securing DSS remand until Monday’s full hearing; ex-Minister Timipre Sylva remains at large, charged in absentia.
Alleged Offenses
Prosecutors claim the group conspired to “levy war against the state” under Criminal Code Section 37(2), knew of Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji’s treasonous plans but failed to report, and handled terrorism funds—like N50M retained by Goni and N10M cash to Umoru. Defense counsel sought client access for preparation.
The former governor, who is said to be currently at large after escaping from the country before the alleged coup plot was leaked, was arraigned in absentia.
The allegations against the defendants border on treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence, and funds laundered in furtherance of acts of terrorism.
According to the FG, the defendants, sometime in September 2025, conspired among themselves to levy war against the state to overawe President Tinubu, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
It was alleged that the defendants had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others but failed to alert the appropriate authorities.
The FG maintained that they rendered assistance to Colonel Ma’aji, as evidenced by their refusal to disclose the coup plot to either the president or a peace officer.
That you, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim (AP776373) and Zekeri Umoru, sometime in the year 2025 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, in a bid to further a political ideology which may seriously destabilise the constitutional structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, knowingly participated in meetings connected with an act of terrorism and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 2(3)(d) and 12(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you, Bukar Kashim Goni, in September 2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly retained the aggregate sum of N50,000,000.00 (fifty million naira) only in your First Bank Account Number 3021511166 from A & A Express Link Concept, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: terrorism financing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.
“That you, Zekeri Umoru, in September 2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without going through a financial institution accepted a cash payment of the sum of N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) only from Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 2(1)(a) and 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.
“That you, Zekeri Umoru, in September 2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly retained the aggregate sum of N8,800,000.00 (eight million, eight hundred thousand Naira) only in your Zenith Bank Plc account number 2006041878, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: terrorism financing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.
“That you, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, in September 2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, directly took possession of the sum of N1,000,000.00 (one million naira) only from Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji (N/10668), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: terrorism financing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
