Military investigators have detained and are questioning the Managing Director of a Federal Government agency in the South-South region over alleged links to a purported plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu.
According to PUNCH, two senior intelligence sources revealed that the agency boss was arrested for allegedly transferring a large sum of money to the former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and ex-Bayelsa State governor, Chief Timipre Sylva.
Investigators reportedly suspect that the funds were intended to support the alleged plot to topple the government.
"The MD (name withheld) transferred a huge amount of money to Sylva. Investigators are working on the theory that the transfer was connected to the coup. He is currently being questioned about the purpose of the transaction," one of the sources revealed.
It was further gathered that Sylva’s Abuja residence was raided by military operatives on Saturday, his younger brother, Paga who serves as his Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, and his driver were arrested during the operation.
The former minister and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain was reportedly outside the country at the time.
Sources familiar with the development said he had planned to return to Nigeria but suspended the trip upon learning that the alleged coup sponsors had been apprehended.
"Sylva’s home in Abuja was searched, but he wasn’t around. His brother and driver were taken into custody. Investigators believe Sylva may have financed the coup plot," another source disclosed.
Efforts to reach the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Markus Kangye, and the Director of Defence Information, Brig Gen Tukur Gusau, proved unsuccessful as calls to their phones went unanswered on Tuesday.
The Defence Headquarters had earlier confirmed the detention of 16 military officers for what it described as "acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations."
In a statement issued on October 4, Brig Gen Gusau said:
"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 their grievances stemmed largely from perceived career stagnation caused by repeated failure in promotion examinations."
However, online news outlet SaharaReporters alleged that the detained officers, whose ranks reportedly range from Captain to Brigadier General, were being held by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) for allegedly plotting to overthrow the Tinubu administration.
"The 16 officers were planning a coup. The military authorities were only being diplomatic in their statement. They had begun holding secret meetings on how to remove the President and other top officials," the platform quoted an unnamed source as saying.
The Defence Headquarters has yet to officially confirm or deny the alleged coup investigation as of the time of filing this report.
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