Military investigators probing an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu have arrested and are interrogating the Managing Director of a Federal Government agency in the South-South region, Punch has learnt.
Two senior intelligence officers confirmed to Punch that the MD was picked up for allegedly transferring a large sum of money to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who has been fingered as one of the alleged financiers of the suspected coup plot.
One of the officers disclosed, “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.”
Investigators had reportedly stormed Sylva’s Abuja residence on Saturday, where his younger brother, Paga Sylva, who serves as his Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, was arrested alongside his driver.
Sources said Sylva, a former Bayelsa governor and All Progressives Congress chieftain, was out of the country during the raid.
“Sylva’s Abuja home was raided on Saturday, but he wasn’t around. His younger brother, Paga, and his 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,” one source said.
Military Maintains Detentions Were Over “Indiscipline”
On October 4, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, issued a statement confirming the detention of 16 military officers but described their arrest as part of a routine disciplinary exercise.
“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,” the statement partly read.
Contrary to the official military explanation, online platform SaharaReporters alleged that the detained officers, ranging from the rank of Captain to Brigadier General, were arrested for plotting to overthrow the government.
It claimed the officers were picked up from their homes across the country and were being held by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
“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,” SaharaReporters quoted an unnamed official.