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Ex minister faces treason charges
The Federal Government of Nigeria has filed a 13-count charge before a Federal High Court in Abuja against former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, and seven others over an alleged plot to wage war against the country and commit acts of terrorism.
The other defendants include Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, Erasmus Victor, Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani. They are expected to be arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik. Sylva is reportedly at large.
The charge, filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, accuses the defendants of offences ranging from treason and terrorism to failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2025 to undermine the Nigerian state. They are accused of plotting “to levy war against the state to overawe the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” contrary to Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
The government further alleged that the defendants had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others but failed to inform authorities.
In addition, the defendants were accused of failing to take reasonable steps to prevent the alleged offence, despite having information that could have stopped it.
The charges also include terrorism-related offences under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022. Prosecutors allege that the defendants conspired to commit acts intended to destabilise Nigeria’s constitutional structure.
Specifically, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru are accused of attending meetings linked to terrorist activities in furtherance of a political agenda.
The charge further alleges that the defendants provided support for terrorism and deliberately withheld intelligence that could have helped prevent such acts.
Financial transactions linked to alleged terrorism financing also form a key part of the case. Prosecutors claim that Bukar Goni retained N50 million suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing, while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly held N2 million from similar sources.
Zekeri Umoru is accused of accepting N10 million in cash outside the banking system and retaining an additional N8.8 million linked to the alleged scheme, while Ahmed Ibrahim allegedly took possession of N1 million tied to the same activities.
All financial-related charges were brought under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
The case is expected to proceed with arraignment as scheduled.,