Death sentence, life imprisonment - wetin go happun if court find alleged coup plotters guilty

Di tori about how di Nigeria govment sama six civilians wit treason plus terrorism charges on top accuse say dem follow plan coup to by force comot President Bola Tinubu from office, still dey fresh for plenty pipo mind for di kontri.

All di six suspects plead not guilty to all di 13-count charges wen di govment arraign dem for court on Wednesday, and di trial judge don give order say di trial go dey fast.

Howeva, di defendants - who don dey for detention for di facility of di Defence Intelligence Agency - go continue to remain in custody, but dis time e go be for di headquarters of di Department of State Service (DSS).

So, how heavy dis accuse against dis defendants be? And wetin be di possible punishment wey dem fit face?

"Treason na very serious offence for Nigeria. E no be sometin wey you dey see evriday for court, especially since di return to democracy. Most of di times, di punishment na usually death sentence or life imprisonment," Kayode Lawal, head of di judiciary correspondents association for Abuja, tell BBC News Pidgin.

Treason

Out of di 13-count charges, di first three na accuse say di six defendants bin join bodi to "levy war against di State" and to "overawe di President", dem bin get information about di act but dem no inform di President or do anytin to stop am.

According to di Nigeria govment, dis offence na treason and e dey against di criminal code of di kontri.

BBC News Pidgin go tru section 37 of di Criminal Code Act of Nigeria wey tok about treason, and e tok say: "Any pesin wey levy war against di State, in order to intimidate or overawe di President or di Governor of a State, dey guilty of treason, and e dey liable to di punishment of death".

Section two of di act also tok say pesin - weda e be citizen of Nigeria or not - wey conspire wit any pesin, weda inside or outside Nigeria, to levy war against di State, also dey guilty of treason and is liable to the punishment of death:

For pesin wey know say somebody wan commit treason and e no give di information to di govment, or try im best using "oda reasonable endeavours" to prevent di offence, dat pesin dey guilty of felony and di punishment na "imprisonment for life".

Terrorism

Counts four to eight of di 13-count charges against di alleged coup plotters, dey based on di terrorism prevention Act of 2022.

In count four, di govment allege say di defendants bin plan to commit acts of terrorism, contrary to section 26 of di terrorism prevention Act.

Dat section tok about conspiracy, aiding and abetting to plan acts of terrorism, and di punishment na di same punishment for di offence wey di conspiracy relates to.

According to di act, if di terrorism act leads to death di culprit go dey liable to death sentence, but if e no lead to death, na imprisonment for life. E mean say di conspirator go also receive di same punishment.

Section 13 of di terrorism act - wey count six of di charges dey based on - provide for 20 years imprisonment for anybody wey attend meeting wia dem plan terrorist act, or provide any kind of assistance or logistics to pesin wey dey plan to commit terrorism.

Also, wey pesin wey get information about potential terrorist act, and e no provide dat information to di appropriate security agency, dat pesin go also chop 20 years for jail if court convict am.

Money laundering

Counts nine to 13 of di charges dey based on di Money Laundery Prohibition Act of 2022.

Di Act provide for prison sentence of between five to 14 years for offences wey concern money laundering.

For instance, count 11 of di charges against di alleged coup plotters, accuse of dem say e collect di sum of 10 million naira cash from one Colonel Muhammed Alhassan Ma'aji, and dis na offence wey dey punishable unda section 19(d) of di money laundery act.

Dat section tok say anybodi wey collect cash payment wey dey higher dan di amount authorised by di act, go dey liable to a fine of 10 million naira or at. least three years for prison, or both.

Di highest approved amount wey somebody fit accept for cash na five million naira, and 10 million naira for corporate body.