Coup: DSS Charges 27-year-old Man to Court for Calling For Tinubu’s Overthrow

The Department of State Services (DSS) has charged Innocent Chukwuemeka Onukwume, 27, for allegedly calling for a military takeover of President Bola Tinubu’s government. The agency filed a six-count charge at the Federal High Court, Abuja (case no. FHC/ABJ/CR/610/2025), accusing Onukwume of using his verified X account (@theagroman) in October to urge a coup and seek military help to remove the civilian administration.

According to the court papers, the tweets quoted by the DSS included direct calls such as “A coup in Nigeria is needed. Dispose of APC, suspend the Nigeria government and join the AES,” and statements urging Nigerians to support the military as the only way to “reset” the country. The filings say the messages were posted with the intent to cause public alarm and disturb the peace.

The charges were filed on November 11 by A. M. Danalami on behalf of the DSS. Some counts allege offences under the Criminal Code Act and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024 (as amended), including publishing messages intended to cause fear, annoyance, or hatred against the federal government. The prosecution says several tweets from mid-October form the basis of the allegations.

One of the counts quoted in the charge sheet reads: “It will happen eventually, Nigerian. The military needs your support now! Only them can save this country,” adding accusatory language about supposed foreign influence in the presidency. Another count cites words urging the removal of the APC and calling votes “stupid” if seen as the solution. These excerpts are central to the DSS’s claim that the messages crossed into criminal territory.

The documents further allege that Onukwume actively solicited assistance from members of the military to carry out the purported coup. If proven, those actions could attract serious penalties under the cited statutes, given how Nigeria’s laws treat incitement to violence and cyber-enabled threats to national security. The DSS says its evidence is drawn directly from the accused’s verified social-media posts.

The matter is now before the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the accused will face the six-count charge. At this stage, the filing of charges does not equate to guilt — that determination rests with the court after full hearing and any cross-examination.