The Federal government has filed a 13-count charge against seven persons linked to an alleged plot to forcefully overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, terrorize the citizens, and sack democratic governance.

Six of the alleged coup plotters were nabbed by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The seventh, former Governor Timpre Sylva of Bayelsa State, is on the run and is being tried in absentia.

In the suit filed on behalf of the Federal government by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, had retired Major-General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana,
retired Navy Captain Victor Erasmus Ochegobia, a former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timpre Sylva, a serving police Inspector, Ahmed Ibrahim. The others are Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.

The charges filed against them include treasonable felony, conspiracy to overthrow the government, conspiracy to commit terrorism and other offenses related to national security threats.

The charges are:
That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA – (RTD),
CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR -(RTD), INSPECTOR
AHMED IBRAHIM(AP776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM
GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, TIMPRE SYLVA (still at large) and
others, sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this
Honourable Court, conspired with one another to levy war against the state
to overawe the President of the Federal Republic o f Nigeria and thereby
committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 37(2) of the code cap 38 LFN 2004.

COUNT 2
That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA – (RTD),
CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR – (RTD), INSPECTOR
AHMED IBRAHIM(AP776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM
GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, TIMPRE SYLVA (still at large) and
others, sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this
Honourable Court, knowing that COLONEL MOHAMMED ALHASSAN
MA’AJI (N/10668) and others intended to commit treason, did not give
the information thereof with all reasonable despatch to either the President
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, or a Peace Officer and thereby committed
an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 40(b) of the Criminal
Code Cap C38 LFN 2004.

COUNT 3
That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA – (RTD),
CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR – (RTD), INSPECTOR
AHMED IBRAHIM(AP776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM
GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, TIMPRE SYLVA(still at large) and
others, sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this
Honorable Court, knowing that COLONEL MOHAMMED ALHASSAN
MA AJI (N/10668), and others intended to commit treason, did not use
any reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the offence and
thereby committed an offence contrary t o and punishable under Section
40(b) of the Criminal Code Cap C 38 (LFN) 2004.

COUNT 4
MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA -(RTD), CAPTAIN
(NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR -(RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED
IBRAHIM(AP776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONEy
ABDULKADIR SANI, TIMPRE SYLVA (still at large) and others, sometime in the year 2025 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honorable court conspired with one another to commit an act of Terrorism Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

COUNT 5
That you, INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM (AP 776373) 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
destabilize 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.

COUNT 6
That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA – (RTD),
CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR -(RTD), INSPECTOR
AHMED IBRAHIM(AP 776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM
GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, AND TIMPRE SYLVA (still at large), sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly and indirectly, rendered support to COLONEL
MOHAMMED ALHASSAN MA’AJI (N/10668) and others, to commit an act of terrorism, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 13(1) (a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

COUNT 7
That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA – (RTD),
CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR – (RTD), INSPECTOR
AHMED IBRAHIM(AP 776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM
GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, AND TIMPRE SYLVA (still at large), sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court had information which you knew would be o f material assistance in preventing the commission o f the act o f terrorism by COLONEL MOHAMMED ALHASSAN MA’AJI (N/10668), and others, failed to disclose the information to the relevant agency as soon as practicable, and
thereby committed a n offence contrary to and punishable under Section 16(1)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

COUNT 8
That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA – (RTD),
CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR – (RTD), INSPECTOR
AHMED IBRAHIM(AP 776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM
GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, AND TIMPRE SYLVA (still at large), sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court had information which you knew would be of material assistance in
securing the apprehension of COLONEL MOHAMMED ALHASSAN MA’AJI (N/10668), and others for a n offence o f terrorism, failed to disclose the information t o the relevant agency as soon as practicable, and
thereby committed a n offence contrary t o and punishable under Section 16(1)(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

COUNT 9
That you, ABDULKADIR SANI, on o r about the 23rd day of September, 2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, indirectly retained the sum of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira) only in
your Jaiz Bank Account Number 0005620270 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 1 8 (3) of the same Act.

COUNT 10
That you, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, in September, 2025, In Abuja, with in
the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, indirectly retained the aggregate sum of N50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira) only in your First Barık Account Number 3021511166 from A & A Express Link Concept, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of
u n 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) o f the
same Act.

COUNT 1 1
That you, ZEKERI UMORU, in September, 2025, in Abuja, within the
Jurisdiction o f this Honorable Court, without going through a financial
institution accepted a cash payment o f the sum o f N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) only from Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Maa’aji and thereby committed an offence contrary t o Sections 2(1)(a) and 19(1)(d)
o f the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) o f the same Act.

COUNT 12
That you, ZEKERI UMORU, in September, 2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, indirectly retained the aggregate sum of N8,800,000.00 (Eight Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira)
only in your Zenith Bank PIc 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 a n offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) o f the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) o f the same Act.

COUNT 13
That you, INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM, in September, 2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction o f this Honorable 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 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.

President Bola Tinubu has approved a minor reshuffle of the Federal Executive Council, removing the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, from their cabinet positions.

A statement on Tuesday by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yomi Odunuga, said the development was contained in a memo signed by the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

According to the memo, Taiwo Oyedele has been appointed as the new Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.

Also appointed is Dr. Muttaqha Darma as Minister-designate for Housing and Urban Development.

The memo directed the outgoing ministers to complete handover processes to their respective successors or supervising officials.

It stated that all handing over and taking over activities must be concluded on or before the close of business on Thursday, 23rd April, 2026.

Explaining the decision, Akume said the changes were aimed at improving coordination and strengthening delivery across key sectors of the economy under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“These changes are aimed at strengthening cohesion, synergy in governance as well as achieving more impactful delivery on the economy to Nigerians, through the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Akume stated.

He added that President Tinubu acted in line with his constitutional powers as provided under Sections 147 and 148 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The SGF also conveyed the President’s appreciation to the outgoing ministers for their service to the nation and wished them well in their future endeavours, noting that the process of cabinet reinvigoration would remain continuous.

The statement further noted that Taiwo Oyedele was appointed as Minister of State for Finance in March 2026, while Edun was among the ministers appointed on August 16, 2023.

There has been widespread criticism on social media following remarks of the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, encouraging a member of the House of Representatives, Hon Leke Abejide, to “stay in ADC and scatter them.”

The ADC is currently in a crisis as different factions are struggling to take control of the party.

Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, spoke at the 50th birthday party of the wife of Abejide in Abuja.

Video of the event, which surfaced online on Monday, showed Gbajabiamila urging the lawmaker, who belongs to Nafiu Bala faction of the party to remain within the party and intensify internal struggles.

In the viral clip, Gbajabiamila said: “I know you to be a committed party man. I know you to be a fighter. I know you to be someone who does not like to be cheated. So please, my charge to you is to stay in that same ADC. Fight them. Scatter them. Hold on to your party ADC. Do not abandon them.

“We like what you are doing. Continue. Don’t mind what the former governor said they will come and join APC. No, no, no. Stay in ADC. Win your re-election in ADC and you will. Bring Gombe, what’s his name again? Bala Gombe. Bring him. Do the right thing. You are a fighter. Do the right thing. Nobody can come and take your party away from you. A party that you’ve built with your sweat and your money and everything. Continue. Good luck in court.”

The remarks have triggered backlash online, with many Nigerians accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of promoting political interference and internal destabilisation of opposition parties.

On X, users expressed anger over Gbajabiamila’s comments, describing them as undemocratic and politically reckless.

Lapai Boy wrote: “They will not be a ruling party forever, let them enjoy it while it lasts.”

Oluwadamilare said: “Shame.. and that clueless man called bejide has family… No one can counsel him he is fight against democracy. APC is evil”

Charles Darwin posted:“Foolish people, I was seeing this man like a responsible person.”

Matthew Beckley added:“APC thinks dis is 2023, were Der Baba said snatch and grab it, Der eyes go clear

TrendPHD wrote:“Continue to push for the destruction of ADC, the people’s choice. It’ll never happen but your own downfall is imminent”

Isah Ishola criticised the development, saying: “This has further shows these people are only after politics of destruction, demonstrating their evil act publicly is so shameful, at least they should have some courtesy for the office of the president. They reduced the office of the pres!dent to nothing than business ventures..”

Another user Thanos wrote, “I don;t blame them, I blame INEC and the judiciary.”

A’man posted “He is blushing for being sent a dangerous work. Your end may likely not justify your means.

The controversy adds to ongoing debates about political conduct and party rivalry in Nigeria, especially as opposition parties continue to reorganise ahead of future electoral cycles. Daily Trust