Six men accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government have pleaded not guilty to treason and terrorism charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The defendants are retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, who appeared in court in a wheelchair; retired Naval Captain Erasmus Victor; Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim; Zekeri Umoru; Bukar Kashim Goni; and Zaria-based cleric Abdulkadir Sani. They face a 13-count charge alleging they conspired in 2025 to “levy war against the state” and topple the President.

According to the charge, the group allegedly shared over N71 million for terrorism financing and failed to report prior knowledge of a treasonable plot linked to one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji, who is also accused in the matter. Former Minister of State for Petroleum Timipre Sylva is named in the case but remains at large.

Prosecutors allege the defendants violated the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, by neglecting to disclose knowledge of an impending act of treason and terrorism to relevant authorities. Specific counts detail funds traced to the accused: Sani allegedly retained N2 million in a Jaiz Bank account; Goni allegedly held N50 million in a First Bank account; and Umoru allegedly accepted N10 million in cash from Colonel Ma’aji and kept nearly N8.8 million in a Zenith Bank account. All sums are suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing.

Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, who is leading the prosecution, asked the court to remand the defendants in DSS custody. He urged defence counsel to follow official protocols for access, assuring them they would not be barred from seeing their clients. This followed complaints from defence lawyers that they had been denied access while the accused were held by the Defence Intelligence Agency.

Presiding judge Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered the six defendants remanded in DSS custody. She adjourned the case to April 27 for commencement of trial and to hear bail applications.