Nigeria Charges Six with Treason in Coup Plot

Nigerian authorities have charged six individuals, including a retired major general and a serving police inspector, with treason and terrorism over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu, according to a 13-count indictment filed in Abuja. The defendants, all in custody, are scheduled to appear before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik at the Federal High Court on April 22. A seventh suspect, former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva, remains at large and faces accusations of concealing the conspiracy.

The charges, signed by Rotimi Oyedepo, director of public prosecutions for the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, stem from events in 2025. Prosecutors allege that the group conspired to levy war against the state and overawe the president, an offense under Section 372 of the Criminal Code. The named defendants are retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Captain NN Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani. They are further accused of knowing about a planned treasonable act involving Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Maaji and others but failing to report it promptly to authorities or take steps...