KEY POINTS
• Military expands probe into alleged coup funding.
• Nestoil debt dispute involves major political figures.
• Sixteen officers detained for suspected military mutiny.
Military investigators are questioning the Managing Director of a Federal Government agency in the South South over an alleged connection to a plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu. Two senior intelligence officials confirmed that the MD was arrested for allegedly transferring a substantial sum of money to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who is being linked to the suspected coup funding.
Naira transfer strengthens coup probe
Investigators believe the funds sent to Sylva were intended to finance the alleged attempt to topple the government. “The MD transferred a huge sum of money to Sylva,” one security source said. “Investigators are working on the theory that the fund transfer was connected to the coup. He is presently answering questions about what the money was meant for.”
Sylva, a former Bayelsa State governor and senior figure in the ruling All Progressives Congress, reportedly had his Abuja residence raided by military personnel on Saturday. His younger brother, Paga, who serves as his Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, was detained along with the household driver during the operation.
At the time of the raid, Sylva was outside Nigeria. Sources close to the investigation said he initially planned to return to the country. He later changed his mind after learning that the alleged coup plotters had been apprehended by security operatives.
Military confirms detention of 16 officers
Efforts to reach Defence Media Operations Director Maj-Gen Markus Kangye and Defence Information Director Brig-Gen Tukur Gusau were unsuccessful. Both officers declined calls placed to their phones. Earlier, on October 4, Gusau issued a statement confirming that sixteen officers were in detention. The action was described as punishment for “indiscipline and breach of service regulations.”
The statement clarified that the detentions followed a routine military exercise. It added that investigations revealed discontent among the officers. The grievances were linked mainly to career stagnation caused by repeated failures in promotion examinations.
However, SaharaReporters reported that the detained officers, ranging from Captain to Brigadier General, were being held by the Defence Intelligence Agency. The report alleged that they were accused of planning to overthrow the Tinubu administration through a coordinated plot. The publication claimed that the arrests took place at various locations across the country.
According to the outlet, “The 16 officers were planning a coup. The military authorities were just being diplomatic in their statement. They had started holding secret meetings on how to overthrow the President and other top officials.”
