A military investigation into an alleged coup plot has reportedly uncovered a financial trail involving ₦45 billion allegedly disbursed from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to several politically exposed persons and some soldiers currently detained over the suspected plan to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Earlier this month, reports surfaced that 16 Nigerian Army officers had been arrested for allegedly plotting a coup. The rumour was linked to the Federal Government’s cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day celebrations. However, the Defence Headquarters later dismissed the claims, saying the officers were being investigated for professional misconduct, not a coup attempt.
Recent findings suggest that investigators from the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) have been questioning senior NDDC officials about the sources and movement of the ₦45 billion, following a raid on the Abuja home of former Bayelsa State governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva. The DIA’s probe reportedly focuses on a shoreline project awarded to a former South-South governor, where part of the funds allegedly ended up in accounts linked to the detained soldiers.
According to security sources, the investigation is part of a broader intelligence-led operation tracking suspicious public fund transfers. Inside sources at the NDDC revealed growing tension at the commission’s headquarters, as several directors and executive members have become uneasy over possible implications of the probe.
An NDDC spokesperson, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, declined to comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, Timipre Sylva has strongly denied any involvement in the alleged plot. His media aide, Chief Julius Bokoru, described the rumour as “the handiwork of desperate politicians” seeking to advance their ambitions ahead of the 2027 elections.
Bokoru confirmed that DIA operatives raided Sylva’s residence in Abuja on Saturday while the former governor and his wife were abroad. He stated that Sylva’s younger brother, Paga, who serves as his domestic aide, and his driver were arrested during the operation and have yet to be released. He added that the officers did not seize any items from the house but caused damage to several parts of the property.
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Bokoru emphasized that Sylva, who is currently in the United Kingdom for medical reasons and scheduled to attend a conference in Malaysia, has no ties whatsoever to any plot to overthrow the government.
In a formal statement titled “Setting the Record Straight on Recent False Reports about Sylva,” Bokoru reiterated that his principal is a “thoroughbred democrat” whose political career has always been rooted in democratic processes.
He also stressed that Sylva remains a loyal supporter of President Tinubu, recalling how he mobilized the Bayelsa APC structure to endorse the President during party meetings.
“These rumours are nothing more than the work of desperate politicians already obsessed with 2027,” Bokoru said. “Chief Sylva poses a political threat to them, and they are trying to tarnish his image because of his credibility and influence.”
