The Federal Government has filed a 13-count charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja against former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, alongside a retired Major General, a retired Naval Captain, a serving police officer and three other individuals over an alleged plot to destabilise Nigeria.
The defendants listed in the charge include Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (retd), Captain (NN) Erasmus Victor (retd), Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani. They are expected to be arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
However, Timipre 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 defendants are facing serious allegations ranging from treason and terrorism to failure to disclose intelligence reports and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.
According to the prosecution, the accused persons allegedly conspired in 2025 to levy war against Nigeria with the intention of intimidating and overpowering the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The offence is said to be punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
The Federal Government further claimed that the defendants had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others, but allegedly failed to report the information to the President or security authorities within a reasonable time.
They were also accused of failing to take necessary steps to prevent the alleged plot from being carried out.
In addition to treason-related allegations, the defendants are also being prosecuted under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The government accused them of conspiring to commit acts of terrorism capable of destabilising Nigeria’s constitutional structure.
The charge specifically alleged that Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru attended meetings linked to terrorist activities in an attempt to promote a political ideology capable of threatening national stability.
The prosecution also accused the defendants of providing support for terrorism, claiming they knowingly offered indirect assistance aimed at facilitating acts of terror. They were further accused of withholding intelligence that could have helped security agencies prevent the alleged terrorist activities.
The case also involves financial transactions believed to be linked to terrorism financing. According to the charge, Bukar Kashim Goni allegedly retained N50 million suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing, while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly retained N2 million.
Zekeri Umoru was accused of accepting N10 million in cash outside the banking system and retaining an additional N8.8 million suspected to be linked to the alleged scheme. Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim was also accused of taking possession of N1 million believed to be part of the same unlawful proceeds.
All financial-related allegations were filed under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The matter is expected to come up for arraignment in court on Wednesday as the Federal Government continues its prosecution of the accused persons.
No comments: