FG Charges Ex-Minister Sylva With Treason – And He Is Nowhere to Be Found

The Federal Government has filed a 13-count charge before a Federal High Court in Abuja against former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, and six other defendants over an alleged plot to overthrow the Nigerian state. Sylva, the most prominent name on the charge sheet, is currently at large.

The charge was filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN. 

The six co-defendants, retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Naval Captain Erasmus Victor, serving Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani, are scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

What the 13-Count Charge Actually Says

The charge accuses the defendants of conspiring in 2025 to levy war against the Nigerian state and to overawe the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, an offence under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code. Beyond treason, the defendants also face terrorism-related charges under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Prosecutors allege that the defendants had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others, but deliberately failed to report it to either the President or a peace officer. They are also accused of failing to take any reasonable steps to prevent the plot from going forward.

The charge further accuses the defendants of knowingly providing support to facilitate acts of terror and suppressing intelligence that would have been material to preventing the alleged plot.

The Money Trail the Prosecution Is Following

Several of the defendants also face money laundering counts under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, with prosecutors tracing financial transactions they allege are linked to terrorism financing.

Bukar Kashim Goni is accused of indirectly retaining N50 million, described as proceeds of terrorism financing. Zekeri Umoru allegedly accepted a N10 million cash payment outside the banking system and retained an additional N8.8 million from a similar source. 

Abdulkadir Sani is accused of retaining N2 million, while Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim allegedly took possession of N1 million linked to the same scheme.

Who Are the Defendants and What Were Their Roles

The defendant list is striking in its range. Timipre Sylva served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under President Tinubu before leaving office. Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana is a retired senior military officer. Erasmus Victor is a retired Naval Captain.

 Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim is a serving police officer, making him the only currently active security operative among the accused.

Prosecutors allege that Inspector Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru specifically participated in meetings tied to terrorist activities, acting to further what the charge describes as a political ideology that would seriously destabilise Nigeria’s constitutional structure.

Sylva Is at Large – and That Is Now Part of the Story

The most immediate question hanging over this case is Timipre Sylva’s whereabouts. The charge sheet names him as a defendant, but according to court records, he is currently at large. 

His absence from the arraignment proceedings on Wednesday will make him a fugitive in the eyes of the court until he presents himself or is brought in.

That detail alone elevates this from a standard court filing to a nationally significant development. A former federal minister, charged with treason, unaccounted for — it is the kind of fact that demands follow-up and will keep this story moving well beyond Wednesday’s hearing.

What Happens Next

The six co-defendants who are present will face arraignment before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday. If they plead not guilty, the case will move to trial. The court will also need to determine next steps regarding Sylva, including whether to issue a warrant for his arrest.

This case now sits at the intersection of national security, political history, and an active manhunt. All three threads will develop quickly.