Nigeria charges six over alleged coup plot to overthrow Tinubu

April 21, 2026 11:44 AM EDT

By Camillus Eboh

ABUJA, ‌April ​21 (Reuters) - ​Nigeria's government filed 13 criminal charges against six former security ‌officials accused of plotting the violent overthrow ⁠of President Bola Tinubu's government last year, ‌court documents showed on ‌Tuesday.

Prosecutors charged a retired army major-general and others with treason, terrorism and ​terrorism financing. A seventh suspect, a former state governor, remains at large.

Attorney-General ⁠and Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi filed the case on ​Monday at a federal court in Nigeria's capital Abuja. The suspects ​are due to be ‌arraigned on Wednesday.

Defence lawyers were not immediately available for comment.

The ⁠case is the most serious treason prosecution since Tinubu took office in 2023, ⁠reflecting a push to tighten internal security at ​a time of economic strains, an Islamist insurgency in the north, and political frictions.

In October, ‌Tinubu suddenly replaced the military's leadership in a sweeping shake-up described ‌by an aide as a move ⁠to bolster security ‌as threats ​rose.

(Reporting by Camillus Eboh; Writing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo; Editing by Andrew ‌Cawthorne)



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