Tinubu: Military Investigators Probe Sylva, Raid Abuja Home Over Alleged Coup Financing

Military investigators probing an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu are questioning the Managing Director of a Federal Government agency in the South-South over suspicious financial transactions.

Two intelligence officers familiar with the matter confirmed to journalists that the MD was arrested for allegedly transferring a huge sum of money to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who has been fingered as one of the financiers of the alleged plot.

An intelligence source said: “The MD (name withheld) transferred a huge sum of money to Sylva. 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’s Abuja Home Raided

The former Bayelsa governor’s Abuja residence was reportedly raided on Saturday. During the operation, military operatives arrested his younger brother, Paga Sylva, who also serves as his Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, alongside his driver.

Sylva, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, was said to be outside the country when the raid took place. Sources revealed that he had been preparing to return to Nigeria but allegedly shelved the plan after news broke that suspected coup plotters had been arrested.

A source explained: “Sylva’s Abuja home was raided on Saturday, but he wasn’t around. His younger brother, Paga, and the driver were arrested. Investigators believe Sylva allegedly funded the coup plot. He was abroad and was preparing to leave for Nigeria when he got wind of the arrest of the coup leaders. So, he stayed back.”

However, Gusau had earlier issued a statement on October 4, confirming that 16 officers were being detained for breaches of military regulations and indiscipline.

The statement read in part: “The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to inform the public that a routine military exercise has resulted in the arrest of sixteen officers over issues of indiscipline and breach of service regulations. Investigations have revealed that their grievances stemmed largely from perceived career stagnation caused by repeated failure in promotion examinations.”

Despite the official explanation, online platform SaharaReporters claimed that the detained officers, ranging from the rank of Captain to Brigadier-General, were in fact being held by the Defence Intelligence Agency for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government.

The platform alleged that the officers were arrested at their homes across the country. An unnamed source was quoted as saying: “The 16 officers were planning a coup. The military authorities were just being diplomatic in the statement released by the spokesperson. They have started holding secret meetings on how to overthrow the President and other top government officials.”

The development comes amid rising concerns about discipline within the Armed Forces. The outgoing service chiefs, appointed in June 2023, had faced growing criticism over the persistence of insurgent and bandit attacks despite several operations in the North-East and North-West.

The fresh allegations, linking a top government agency boss and a former minister to the financing of an alleged coup plot, mark a dramatic twist in what began as a disciplinary probe but now threatens to evolve into a major political and security crisis.