The Federal Government has filed a 13-count charge against the former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, over an alleged coup plot. The charges, filed at a Federal High Court in Abuja, include treason, terrorism, and money laundering.
Other defendants in the case include retired military officers and a serving police inspector. While the other accused persons are scheduled for arraignment on Wednesday, Sylva is reportedly at large according to prosecution documents.
Allegations of conspiracy to wage war
The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF) accuses the group of conspiring in 2025 to undermine the Nigerian state. Prosecutors allege they planned to levy war against the state to “overawe” the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The charge further claims the defendants had prior knowledge of a treasonable plot by a certain army colonel but failed to alert security agencies. They are also accused of failing to take reasonable steps to prevent the commission of the crime.
Terrorism financing and money laundering
Beyond the treason charges, several defendants face prosecution for allegedly financing terrorist activities in the country. The government claims they participated in secret meetings aimed at destabilizing the constitutional structure of Nigeria.
Specific defendants are accused of accepting large cash payments, totaling millions of naira, linked to terrorism financing. These financial transactions reportedly bypassed traditional banking institutions in a bid to conceal the source and purpose of the funds.
Prosecution seeks justice under new laws
The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, signed the charges under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The government intends to prove that the defendants suppressed vital intelligence that could have prevented acts of terror.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik will preside over the case as the legal proceedings commence this week. Security agencies continue their efforts to locate the former minister to ensure he faces the allegations in open court.
