THE Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has intensified its investigation into an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu, with military operatives reportedly interrogating a Managing Director of a Federal Government agency over suspicious financial transactions allegedly linked to the planned coup.
Two top intelligence officials confirmed to this newspaper that the unnamed MD from the South-South region was arrested after transferring a “huge sum of money” to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and ex-Bayelsa Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, who is now being probed as one of the alleged financiers of the coup plot.
Investigators are said to be working on the suspicion that the payment was meant to bankroll efforts to “forcefully change government in Nigeria.”
“The MD 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 currently answering questions about the purpose of the money,” one intelligence officer revealed.
The probe escalated over the weekend when military operatives stormed Sylva’s Abuja home in a covert raid. He was outside the country at the time, but his younger brother and Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, identified as Paga, was arrested alongside the former governor’s driver.
Sources said Sylva was already preparing to return to Nigeria but suspended his travel when he got wind of the arrest of suspected coup conspirators.
“Sylva’s house was raided on Saturday, but he wasn’t around. Investigators believe he allegedly funded the coup plot. He stayed back abroad once he learned that arrests had begun,” another official disclosed.
Efforts to get official comments were unsuccessful as the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Markus Kangye, and the Director of Defence Information, Brig-Gen Tukur Gusau, did not respond to calls from our correspondent.
Gusau had earlier confirmed the arrest of 16 senior military officers but insisted the move followed “breaches of service regulations” and “indiscipline,” not a coup attempt.
“Investigations have revealed that their grievances stemmed largely from perceived career stagnation caused by repeated failure in promotion examinations,” his October 4 statement partly read.
However, online publication alleged that the detained officers ranging from Captains to Brigadier Generals were arrested for convening secret meetings aimed at toppling the current administration.
According to the platform, the officers were arrested simultaneously across several states and have since been in DIA custody under tight security surveillance.
“They were planning a coup… The authorities are only being diplomatic with the public,” the publication quoted a source.