Military investigators probing an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu have detained and are currently interrogating a Managing Director of a Federal Government agency based in the South-South region, The PUNCH has reliably gathered.
Two senior intelligence sources confirmed that the MD was arrested for allegedly transferring a large sum of money to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, who has been implicated as one of the suspected financiers of the alleged coup attempt.
According to investigators, the transferred funds were believed to be intended to finance the purported plot to forcibly remove the government.
“The MD (name withheld) transferred a huge amount to Sylva. Investigators are working on the theory that the fund transfer was connected to the coup. He is presently being interrogated on what the money was meant for,” a top military source disclosed.
Military Raids Sylva’s Abuja Home
Security operatives reportedly raided Sylva’s Abuja residence on Saturday, arresting his younger brother, Paga Sylva, who serves as his Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, as well as his driver.
The former Bayelsa State governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain was said to be outside the country at the time of the operation.
Sources familiar with the development revealed that Sylva was preparing to return to Nigeria but changed his plans after learning that the suspected coup plotters had been apprehended.
“Sylva’s Abuja home was raided on Saturday, but he wasn’t around. His younger brother, Paga, and his driver were arrested. Investigators suspect Sylva may have funded the coup plot. He was abroad and planning to return until he heard that the coup leaders had been detained,” the source added.
Defence Headquarters Yet to Comment
Efforts to reach the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, and the Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, on Tuesday were unsuccessful as they did not respond to calls or messages.
However, in an earlier statement dated October 4, Brig.-Gen. Gusau confirmed that 16 military officers had been detained for “breaches of military regulations and acts of indiscipline.”
“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 revealed that their grievances stemmed largely from perceived career stagnation due to repeated failures in promotion examinations,” the statement read in part.
Allegations of Coup Plot Deepen
Meanwhile, online news outlet SaharaReporters alleged that the detained officers—ranging from the rank of Captain to Brigadier General—are being held by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) over an alleged plot to overthrow President Tinubu’s administration.
The report claimed that the officers were arrested at their residences across different states.
“The 16 officers were planning a coup. The military authorities were just being diplomatic in their statement. They had begun holding secret meetings to overthrow the President and top government officials,” the platform quoted a security insider as saying.
The military is yet to issue an official response to the latest developments as investigations continue into what is being described as one of Nigeria’s most serious security allegations in recent years.
