Six men pleaded not guilty to treason and terrorism charges over a botched coup plot, Nigeria media reported on Wednesday, as the first prosecutions for the alleged 2025 putsch attempt get under way.

On Tuesday, the government announced six civilians in the alleged plot were charged at the Federal High Court in Abuja, including a retired major general.

The military is also set to try several officers, in proceedings that have not yet commenced.

Local media reported on Wednesday that the six civilians, in their first court appearance, pleaded not guilty.

Trial to continue next week

The trial will continue on April 27.

Lawyers for both the prosecution and defence declined to speak to the media gathered outside the courthouse.

The charges named retired major general Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.

They are accused of conspiring "with one another to levy war against the state to overawe the President of the Federal Republic", according to the charging documents.

'Act of terrorism'

The six were also accused of knowing that Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma'aji "and others intended to commit treason" and did not alert authorities.

Ma'aji has been named in previous Nigerian press reports as the "mastermind" of the coup.

The defendants are additionally accused of conspiring "with one another to commit an act of terrorism" and of "indirectly" but "knowingly" rendering "support" to Ma'aji "and others to commit an act of terrorism."

Also named in the documents as having allegedly acted alongside the accused was "Timpre Sylva (still at large)" – which appeared to be a misspelling of former oil minister Timipre Sylva, who has previously denied alleged connections to the coup plot.