Military officers, ex-Bayelsa State govnor chop treason charges ova accuse say dem wan overthrow President Tinubu

Six pipo for Nigeria, wey include one retired major general and one serving police inspector, don dey charged wit treason on top accuse say dem attempt to overthrow President Bola Tinubu for inside one coup last year.

One court document wey di BBC News Pidgin take eye see show say di govment don bring di case bifor di Federal High Court for Abuja, and di suspects go physically appear bifor Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on Wednesday, 22 April.

Among di pipo wey dey named for di 13-count charge na one former govnor of Southern Bayelsa State and former minister of state for petroleum resources, Timipre Sylva wey prosecutors say e don run.

Di oda defendants na one Army and Naval officers and three odas.

Rumours of di coup plot bin first surface for October 2025, wen di govment bin suddenly cancel one planned military parade to mark Nigeria 65th Independence Anniversary.

At di time, officials cite security threats - but speculation quickly link di cancellation to one possible coup plot.

Di military bin deny di coup plot, but for January, dem announce say 16 officers go dey tried bifor one military court for attempting to remove di president.

E neva dey clear weda di charges wey dey filed for di Federal High Court, wey include terrorism and money laundering, also include military prosecutions.

Pipo wey dia names dey di list

Di pipo wey dia names dey inside di Attorney General case na:

Wetin be di charges?

According to di charge sheet, di six defendants, wey neva comment on di allegations bin "conspire wit one anoda to levy war against di state to overawe" di president, one offence wey dey punishable under Section 37(2) of di Criminal Code.

Di court paper suggest say na Col Mohammed Alhassan Ma'aji bin plan di coup and e chop arrest alongside oda alleged accomplices.

Prosecutors also allege say di defendants bin get prior knowledge of Col Ma'aji treasonable act", but fail to inform authorities.

Di charges include di suppression of intelligence, and prosecutors allege say di defendants get intention to destabilise di state and dem fail to disclose information wey for fit help prevent terrorism.

Money-laundering allegations form ogbonge part of di case - wit accusations say money change hands wey dey linked to di financing of terrorism.

Di charge also accuse di defendants of providing support for terrorism, and allege say dem "knowingly and indirectly render support" to facilitate acts of terror.

Dem bring all financial-related counts under di Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Di 13-count charge present wetin prosecutors describe as a coordinated network wey involve security personnel, civilians, and a politically exposed individual, wey allegedly dey connected to activities wey threaten national security.

Under Nigerian law, treason na one of di most serious criminal offences and fit attract severe penalties, wey include life imprisonment.

Nigeria don experience period of unbroken civilian rule since 1999.

Di armed forces don consistently stress dia loyalty to civilian authority, as dem often dey issue public statements to reaffirm dia commitment to democracy.