An ongoing military investigation into a purported coup plot has uncovered a trail of N45 billion allegedly disbursed from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to some politically exposed persons and detained military personnel. The funds are reportedly linked to transactions connected with soldiers under investigation for an alleged conspiracy to destabilize President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Earlier reports by Sahara Reporters indicated that 16 Nigerian Army officers were detained over claims they were planning a coup, allegedly triggered by the Federal Government’s cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day celebrations. However, the military has denied any connection between the officers’ detention and a coup attempt. In a statement, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, described the reports as misleading, clarifying that the officers were being investigated for professional misconduct.
Recent developments saw Nigerian Army personnel raid the Abuja residence of former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, in connection with the probe. During the operation, Sylva’s younger brother, Paga, and his driver were taken into custody, although Sylva, who was abroad, denied any involvement in the alleged plot.
Investigators from the Defence Intelligence Agency have also questioned top NDDC officials about the source, beneficiaries, and utilization of the funds. Security sources revealed that the inquiry focuses on a series of high-value transactions, including a N45 billion shoreline project awarded to a former governor in the South-South region, with part of the funds allegedly traced to accounts linked to the detained officers.
Inside the NDDC, the questioning has heightened anxiety among senior officials, many of whom fear a broader investigation into the commission’s financial dealings. “Since the news broke about the interrogation of the top shots, the atmosphere here has been uneasy. Many directors are being cautious about their movements and communications,” a source said on condition of anonymity.
Sylva’s media aide, Chief Julius Bokoru, dismissed the alleged coup link, attributing the reports to political rivals seeking to advance ambitions for the 2027 governorship elections. He confirmed that no items were removed from Sylva’s Abuja residence during the raid, though a close associate reported some property damage. Sylva’s NDDC former Chief of Staff, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, also denied any arrest or involvement in the plot.
In a detailed statement titled “Setting the record straight on recent false reports about Sylva,” Bokoru reiterated that Sylva and his wife were abroad at the time of the raid. He emphasized Sylva’s longstanding support for democratic processes and President Tinubu, asserting that the allegations were politically motivated attempts to undermine him.
The Defence Headquarters maintains that reports of a coup are “false, misleading, and malicious,” and continues to frame the investigation as focused on professional misconduct and financial irregularities rather than a direct threat to national security.