DIA Uncovers ₦11bn In Colonel’s Bank Accounts Amid Coup Plot Probe

Fresh details have emerged on the alleged coup plot that led to the detention of several senior military officers, as military intelligence reportedly traced about ₦11 billion to the bank accounts of a detained colonel.

Top security sources who spoke to Sunday PUNCH disclosed that that the financial trail directly linked the officer to the suspected plot to overthrow the government.

According to an officer familiar with the investigation, the colonel—who served under a brigadier general also under probe—was previously posted to the Niger Delta.

“When interrogated, the colonel claimed that the funds belonged to a former governor, whom he described as his business partner,” the source disclosed.

“He insisted the money was meant for a legitimate business transaction.”

Findings by Sunday PUNCH showed that the ongoing probe stems from an extensive investigation launched after intelligence reports in August 2024 suggested that some serving officers were plotting to topple the government.

Multiple sources revealed that the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) had been quietly tracking the officers’ financial transactions, communications, and foreign contacts for months before the arrests.

“The coup plotters have been under the radar since August 2024,” a senior officer revealed. “They mapped out three different times to strike—June 12 (Democracy Day), October 1 (Independence Day), and another undisclosed date.”

Security operatives reportedly uncovered that the suspects held meetings in the UK and Turkey, prompting the DIA to intensify its surveillance before finally swooping in.

Intelligence gathered during the covert operation reportedly led to a review of presidential movements, with President Bola Tinubu’s limited presence in Abuja attributed to evolving security assessments.

A source said, “The first countermeasure was to divert the President’s movements. There was credible intelligence that the coup would be executed on October 1, which was why the Independence Day celebration was cancelled.”

He added that the surveillance operation had been ongoing since August 2024, and that the agency “had access to the suspects’ communications,” allowing it to stay one step ahead.

The development reportedly influenced President Tinubu’s decision last Friday to dismiss all service chiefs, including the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and appoint new ones.

Sources told the news platform that Musa’s removal followed what was described as a “management error”—a public statement by the Defence Headquarters confirming the arrest of 16 officers.

“Information about the arrest of the 16 officers shouldn’t have been in the public domain,” a senior security official said.
“The international community could have misinterpreted the situation. That carelessness necessitated the change of the service chiefs.”

He added that dismissing all the chiefs simultaneously was a strategic move “to mask disciplinary intent” and avoid speculation that Musa alone was being punished.

Although the Defence Headquarters publicly denied any coup attempt—claiming the officers were merely undergoing internal scrutiny—ongoing DIA operations reportedly tell a different story.

Earlier reports by Sahara Reporters and Premium Times indicated that 16 officers were detained, with most of them hailing from northern Nigeria—including Nasarawa, Niger, Bauchi, Kaduna, Plateau, Gombe, Katsina, Jigawa, and the Federal Capital Territory.

Officials, however, have chosen to withhold the regional identities of the suspects to prevent political tension and ethnic suspicion within the military.

“Revealing the regional origins could be misinterpreted as targeting northern officers,” a defence source told Sunday PUNCH. “That would only worsen the fragile balance in the armed forces.”

In a related development, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) announced a major redeployment of senior officers to strengthen operational coordination under its new Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke.

A statement issued by NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, on Friday said the restructuring was part of efforts to align with the service’s leadership vision and boost combat readiness.

At least 19 officers were reassigned, while six others were posted to defence and inter-service establishments.

“The restructuring is aimed at improving decision-making, strengthening coordination across units, and reinforcing readiness in response to current security challenges,” Ejodame stated.

Aneke’s shake-up came just a day after the Nigerian Army also announced a major reorganisation of top commanders, a move seen as part of the broader efforts to restore stability and discipline within the armed forces following the coup scare.