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Brazil: Jair Bolsonaro found guilty of attempting coup
The majority of a panel of Supreme Court justices voted to convict the far-right former Brazilian leader of trying to overturn his election defeat to Lula da Silva in 2022. He was sentenced to 27 years in prison.
A panel of Brazilian Supreme Court justices on Thursday reached the majority of votes needed to convict former President Jair Bolsonaro of plotting a coup in 2022 after he lost the presidential election to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
The right-wing populist was found guilty after three out of five Supreme Court justices voted to convict.
The court later sentenced him to 27 years in prison.
Justice Carmen Lucia, who issued the decisive third vote, framed the case as a “meeting between Brazil and its past, its present, and its future,” referring to previous attempts to overthrow democracy in the country’s history.
Lucia said there was enough evidence to demonstrate that Bolsonaro acted “with the purpose of eroding democracy and institutions.”
The judges voted to convict Bolsonaro of taking part in an armed criminal organization, attempting to violently abolish democracy, organizing a coup, and damaging government property and protected cultural assets.
The conviction will become final after the fifth judge, Lula’s former lawyer Cristiano Zanin, casts a vote. One judge has already voted to acquit.
What do we know about the charges against Bolsonaro?
On January 8, 2023, Bolsonaro supporters stormed several government buildings in the capital, Brasilia, just days after Lula’s inauguration.
In July, Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet said that Bolsonaro and seven others had taken part in an “armed criminal association” that sought to “violently overthrow the democratic order.”
The proceedings mark the first trial of a former Brazilian president on coup charges.
Case stokes divison
Bolsonaro is currently under house arrest, with Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes declaring him a “flight risk” late last month.
He remains a popular political figure in Brazil. On Sunday, tens of thousands of Bolsonaro’s supporters rallied in cities across the country.

Thousands of Bolsonaro’s supporters rallied in Sao Paulo on Sunday
© Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images
The case against Bolsonaro has also inflamed tensions between the US and Brazil, with US President Donald Trump denouncing the case against his Brazilian ally as a “witch hunt” and imposing a 50% tariff on various Brazilian goods.
Brazilian President Lula has condemned Trump’s interference in the Brazilian legal system, calling it “unacceptable” and an attempt to undermine Brazil’s sovereignty.
Trump has faced similar charges of attempting to overturn election results after his own failed 2020 presidential bid.
Bolsonaro’s supporters see the charges against him as politicized and have welcomed Trump’s support.
Trump on Thursday called Bolsonaro’s coup conviction “very surprising.”
Edited by: Louis Oelofse
Author: Wesley Rahn (with AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters), Saim Dušan Inayatullah
Trending
MOTORISTS AMBUSHED AND ABDUCTED IN NGOR-OKPALA: IMO POLICE LAUNCH MASSIVE COUNTER-OPERATION
By Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke
8-DEC-2025
A disturbing incident unfolded in Amala Autonomous Community, Ngor-Okpala LGA, on December 7, 2025, when armed assailants stormed the roadway, opened fire on a Toyota Highlander, and forcefully whisked away the occupants of a Lexus RS300.
The attackers were said to have emerged suddenly from a nearby bush path, shooting the driver of the Highlander—who was later confirmed dead at the hospital—before escaping with their abducted victims.
Following the attack, the Imo State Police Command, under the leadership of Commissioner of Police CP Aboki Danjuma, immediately intensified security operations across the area.
Officers from the Ngor-Okpala Division swiftly cordoned off the scene, evacuated the injured driver, and initiated a coordinated manhunt alongside other security agencies and local vigilante outfits.
A wide-ranging search-and-rescue mission is now underway, with joint operatives combing the Amala forest corridor and tracking potential suspects. Investigators report that early progress has been made, and efforts to rescue the kidnapped individuals are continuing with renewed momentum.
The Imo State Police Command has reassured the public that all available resources are being deployed to crack down on the perpetrators and prevent similar incidents. Residents have been urged to remain calm and share any useful information with the nearest police station or through the dedicated emergency line: 0803 477 3600.

News
SEE VIDEO: MIDNIGHT CARNAGE IN LILU: GUNMEN RAZE ANGLICAN CHURCH, KILL PRIEST’S WIFE AND ONE OTHER
By Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke
8- DEC- 2025
The quiet community of Lilu in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State was thrown into mourning on Sunday after armed assailants launched a devastating midnight attack on St. Andrews Anglican Church, leaving two people dead—including the wife of the resident priest—and destroying several buildings within the church premises.
The attackers reportedly stormed the church compound in the early hours of the morning, firing sporadically and setting fire to multiple structures. The assault came just as some early worshippers were preparing for the day’s service. Witnesses said the gunmen moved with brutal precision, torching vehicles, the priest’s residence, and other facilities as frightened residents fled for safety.
By Monday morning, when journalists arrived to assess the destruction, what was once a vibrant centre of worship had been reduced to ruins. Charred vehicles, shattered roofs, burnt personal items, and lingering smoke told the story of a night filled with terror. The church compound, normally bustling with worshippers, stood eerily quiet—its silence a stark reminder of the violence that occurred.
One eyewitness, still visibly shaken, recounted the chaos:
“They came in shooting everywhere. Everything was burning—cars, buildings, even the priest’s house. The priest’s wife and one other person were killed. Many were injured. It was like something from a nightmare.”
Residents expressed deep concern over the severity of the attack and lamented the lack of nationwide attention to what they described as a direct assault on their community and faith.
Meanwhile, the Anambra State Police Command confirmed the tragic incident. Police spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga said Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, had strongly condemned the violence, calling it “utterly wicked and intolerable.” He noted that the CP has ordered intensified intelligence operations, strengthened joint security deployment, and enhanced surveillance across the area to prevent further occurrences.
Ikenga extended condolences on behalf of the Command to the bereaved families and the entire Lilu community. He urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with ongoing investigations as security agencies move to track down the perpetrators.
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Imo Govt shuts hotel, mortuary over alleged kidnapping, organ-harvest
Imo State government has shutdown a hotel and a mortuary allegedly used for kidnapping and the harvesting of human organs.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Okoye Henry, disclosed this in a statement shared via X handle on Sunday.
Henry said the operation was based on credible intelligence regarding a suspected criminal, Stanley Morocco Oparaugo, who remains at large.
According to the command, the action formed part of an ongoing crackdown on kidnapping and violent crimes along the Owerri–Aba Expressway, led by the Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, in collaboration with other security stakeholders.
“A hotel and a private mortuary owned by the suspect, allegedly used by kidnappers and violent criminals, were inspected.
“At the mortuary, decomposed and mutilated corpses were discovered in unhygienic conditions, raising suspicions of illegal organ-harvesting activities.
“Following these discoveries, both the hotel and mortuary were sealed on the directive of the State Government.
“The suspect’s residence was also searched, and crucial exhibits were recovered,” he said.
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