The six defendants are due to appear before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on Wednesday. They are: Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, a retired major general; Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, a retired navy captain; Ahmed Ibrahim, a police inspector; Zekeri Umoru, an electrician at the Presidential Villa; Bukar Kashim Goni, a civilian; and Abdulkadir Sani, an Islamic cleric, according to major media reports.
According to the charge sheet, the six defendants conspired to levy war against the state to overawe the president. The court papers suggest the coup plot was led by Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma'aji, who was arrested along with other accomplices. Prosecutors allege the defendants had prior knowledge of Ma'aji's treasonable act but failed to inform authorities. The charges include suppression of intelligence, with prosecutors alleging the defendants were intent on destabilising the state and failed to disclose information that could have helped prevent terrorism. Money-laundering allegations form a significant part of the case, with accusations that money changed hands linked to financing of terrorism.
Rumours of the coup plot first surfaced in October 2025 when the government abruptly cancelled a planned military parade to mark Nigeria's 65th Independence Anniversary. Officials cited security threats for the cancellation, but speculation linked it to a possible coup plot. The military denied the suggestion of a coup plot in October 2025. In January, the military announced that 16 officers were to be tried before a military court for attempting to oust the president. It is unclear whether the charges filed in the Federal High Court are in addition to the military prosecutions.
A seventh person, former governor and one-time oil minister Timipre Sylva, was also named but is still at large. Under Nigerian law, treason can attract severe penalties, including life imprisonment. Nigeria has experienced unbroken civilian rule since 1999.