Alleged Coup Plot: Suspects Plead Not Guilty, Remanded in DSS Custody

In a significant development at the Federal High Court in Abuja, six individuals have pleaded not guilty to a comprehensive 13-count charge accusing them of terrorism and coup plotting. The arraignment, led by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), outlines serious allegations including conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism and an attempt to "levy war" against the Nigerian state. Notably, a former Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, is also named in the charge as being at large, adding a high-profile dimension to the proceedings.

The charges detail a conspiracy involving the defendants to destabilize the government, with specific counts related to failing to disclose intelligence about the alleged plot. The prosecution is pushing for an accelerated hearing, emphasizing the gravity of the accusations. The court faced minor delays due to issues with legal representation and a defendant's communication barriers, requiring an interpreter for Arabic and Hausa.

Despite the complexities, all six defendants entered pleas of not guilty. One defendant acknowledged a sum mentioned in the charge but denied any link to terrorism, while another described the money as a gift, also denying involvement in terrorist acts. Following the pleas, the court ordered the remand of the defendants in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) pending the trial, signaling the seriousness with which these allegations are being treated by the Nigerian judicial system. The case underscores the ongoing efforts to maintain national security and address threats to the state.

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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, Timipre 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 of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code Cap C38 LFN 2004.