Nigeria: Six charged with attempted coup
via SeneNews3 min read
Nigerian prosecutors have charged six individuals, including a retired major general, with an attempted coup that authorities thwarted in 2025. Documents filed with the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday indicate that the six are accused of conspiring "among themselves to declare war on the state to intimidate the president of the Federal Republic."
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
Mamadou Sadibou Augustin Diédhiou, a third-year medical student, has been placed under a committal order by a judge in Linguère. He faces charges of "criminal association, unnatural acts, and voluntary transmission of HIV." Several other suspects have also been incarcerated in connection with the case. The investigation began after three employees of Maguette Lô Hospital in Linguère filed a complaint alleging "harassment via Facebook and WhatsApp." Investigators traced a Facebook account, "Ndanane Seck," leading to Diédhiou's arrest. According to Libération newspaper, Diédhiou admitted to the facts during questioning, stating he learned of his HIV-positive status in 2024, prior to medical examinations conducted as part of the inquiry. He also reportedly disclosed being introduced to homosexual relations by an uncle in Mbacké when he was in primary school. Diédhiou named several alleged partners: Ndiaga Seck, Amadou Guèye known as "Tigui", Ada Seck, Moussa Mangane, and Amadou Lamine Dia, all of whom have also been detained. The investigation continues, with Amadou Lamine Dieng, described as a "partner," also under scrutiny. His phone and computer were seized for analysis by the Special Cybersecurity Division. The case, which originated from an online harassment complaint, uncovered more serious allegations, leading to charges of voluntary HIV transmission and "unnatural acts," both criminalized under Senegalese law.
Must ReadDakar is preparing for a significant legal event on June 10, 2026, as Ousmane Sonko is scheduled to appear before the High Court for a crucial hearing. This session is central to an ongoing dispute with Mame Mbaye Niang and could significantly impact the political future of the PASTEF leader. The atmosphere in the High Court is expected to be tense. The judge of the 3rd Civil Chamber has stated that no further postponements will be granted, and the case concerning the alleged "fraudulent transfer" of the Keur Gorgui land will be thoroughly examined. For Ousmane Sonko, now a central figure in the state apparatus, this civil deadline represents a major legal and political test. For Mame Mbaye Niang, it is an opportunity to resolve a long-standing dispute that has become emblematic of recent judicial tensions. The core of the litigation dates back to May 2023, when Ousmane Sonko was ordered to pay 200 million FCFA in damages to Mame Mbaye Niang for defamation. Following this judgment, the PASTEF leader transferred his lease rights for a 264 m² plot of land in the Keur Gorgui neighborhood to family members. Mame Mbaye Niang views this action as an attempt to organize the debtor's insolvency.
Must ReadDuring a ceremony honoring the centennial of former President Abdoulaye Wade, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye delivered a speech widely interpreted as containing indirect messages for his former Prime Minister and political ally, Ousmane Sonko. Without explicitly naming Sonko, President Faye emphasized values such as patience, respect for adversaries, and the primacy of the nation. These themes are seen in public discourse as a commentary on recent political tensions within the executive. He stressed that "nothing durable is born in haste," advocating for long-term, consistent political action. The President also highlighted the importance of respecting political opponents, referencing Abdoulaye Wade's past struggles in opposition, including imprisonment and trials, before the peaceful transition of power in 2000. He stated that "one can oppose without tearing each other apart, and succeed each other without destroying each other." In the final part of his address, President Faye underscored the national interest, asserting that partisan ambitions should not override national stability. He praised former President Wade as a fighter without rancor, capable of prioritizing the state over confrontational logic, adding that "serving one's youth will always be better than using them." Observers view this speech as a repositioning of the head of state in his relationship with his former Prime Minister.
Must ReadMoussa Sarr's appointment as Minister of Justice comes at a politically and judicially charged time, marked by expectations for accountability and sensitive cases, particularly those related to political violence between 2021 and 2024. A former lawyer for President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the new Keeper of the Seals inherits a strategic portfolio central to current institutional balances. With over twenty years at the bar, Moussa Sarr built a career in business litigation, covering economic criminal law, banking law, real estate law, and public business law. He is also known for teaching at several higher education institutions in Dakar. His technical profile is presented by his supporters as an asset in managing complex cases, especially those related to public finance management and judicial control procedures. However, Moussa Sarr's designation is not unanimously supported in the political sphere. It occurs amidst persistent disagreement between the head of state and former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, particularly regarding the conduct of accountability policy. Sonko recently expressed reservations about the chosen directions, while affirming he does not question the minister personally. This position, however, reveals a deeper division on the method for handling public management affairs. Two interpretations now oppose each other at the executive level: one advocating a strict and rapid application of sanctions for public fund management, and the other focusing on respec