Fresh details have emerged in the ongoing military investigation into an alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu, as operatives reportedly uncovered a trail of N45 billion allegedly disbursed from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to politically exposed persons and some detained military officers.
According to security sources, the funds were traced during a wider probe led by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), which has been investigating claims of subversive activities linked to the alleged conspiracy.
Earlier this month, Sahara Reporters had alleged that 16 Nigerian Army officers were arrested for planning to overthrow the Tinubu administration. The online outlet linked the purported coup to the Federal Government’s cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day celebration.
However, the military authorities swiftly denied the claim, describing it as “false, misleading, and malicious.” In a statement, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, said the detained officers were being investigated for “breaches of military regulations and acts of indiscipline,” not a coup attempt.
Multiple reports indicated that operatives recently raided the Abuja residence of former Bayelsa governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, in connection with the ongoing probe.
Investigators are said to have interrogated top NDDC officials to determine the origin, purpose, and recipients of the N45 billion, part of which was allegedly linked to detained officers.
Security insiders said that the suspicious funds were tied to a shoreline project awarded to a former governor in the South-South region. Some of the funds reportedly found their way into the accounts of the detained military personnel.
“The interrogation of NDDC executives is part of a broader intelligence-based inquiry into the movement of public funds,” a senior source confirmed.
The development has reportedly triggered panic at the NDDC headquarters, as officials fear a wider probe into the commission’s financial operations. One insider said:
“Since news broke about the interrogation, the atmosphere here has been tense. Many directors are watching their steps and keeping communication minimal.”
The NDDC spokesperson, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, declined to comment on the matter when contacted.
In a swift response, Chief Timipre Sylva denied any connection to the alleged coup plot. His Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Chief Julius Bokoru, described the allegations as “the handiwork of desperate politicians nursing 2027 ambitions.”
Bokoru confirmed that operatives of the Defence Intelligence Agency raided Sylva’s Abuja home on Saturday, arresting his younger brother, Paga Sylva (Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs), and his driver.
“Expensive doors were destroyed, and household appliances ransacked, but nothing incriminating was found,” said a close associate of Sylva.
Bokoru explained that the former minister and his wife, Alanyingi Sylva, were both outside the country during the raid.
“He was in the United Kingdom for routine medical checks and scheduled to attend a professional conference in Malaysia,” he said.
He stressed that Sylva has never participated in or supported any anti-democratic plot, describing him as “a thoroughbred democrat whose political journey has been defined by faith in due process.”
Bokoru further alleged that the rumours were being spread by “self-serving politicians” within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State who view Sylva as a major political obstacle ahead of the 2027 elections.
“These desperate politicians, consumed by ambition, have resorted to fabricating falsehoods because of Sylva’s strong political influence and credibility,” he said.
The NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, who previously served as Sylva’s Chief of Staff, also denied reports of his arrest.
“I’m not aware of such. Just like you, I’m only seeing it on social media,” Ogbuku said.
The Defence Headquarters had earlier confirmed that 16 officers, ranging from the ranks of Captain to Brigadier General, were in custody for acts of indiscipline, but denied any coup plot.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to inform the public that a routine military exercise resulted in the arrest of sixteen officers over issues of indiscipline and breach of service regulations,” Brig. Gen. Gusau had stated earlier.
He explained that the detained officers had grievances over promotion stagnation, not political motives.
Despite official denials, the alleged financial link between NDDC funds and the detained officers has deepened the controversy, raising new questions about possible misuse of public funds and political undercurrents within Nigeria’s security and governance circles.
