A military probe into an alleged coup plot has reportedly uncovered N45 billion disbursed from Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) accounts to some politically exposed persons and soldiers detained in connection with the purported conspiracy to topple President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Earlier this month, Sahara Reporters claimed that 16 Nigerian Army officers were detained for allegedly plotting a coup, linking the alleged plan to the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day celebrations. However, the military, through Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, dismissed the claim, stating the detained officers were under investigation for professional misconduct, not a coup attempt.
Recent reports indicate that some Nigerian Army personnel raided the Abuja residence of ex-governor Timipre Sylva, a former Minister of State for Petroleum, as part of the ongoing probe by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
Investigators have also questioned top NDDC officials about the sources, beneficiaries, and utilization of the funds, with a particular focus on a N45 billion shoreline project awarded to a former South-South governor, some of which allegedly ended up in the accounts of the detained officers.
Security sources say the interrogation is part of a broader intelligence-driven inquiry into public fund movements. Inside the NDDC, senior officials reportedly feel anxious, fearing the probe could expand to other executives.
“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,” said an insider, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The NDDC spokesperson, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, declined to comment on the investigation, while Sylva has denied any involvement, with his Special Assistant on Media, Chief Julius Bokoru, describing the rumours as the work of “desperate and self-seeking politicians trying to actualise their ambitions in 2027.”
The PUNCH also reported that Sylva’s Abuja home was raided by DIA operatives investigating the controversial plot, intensifying speculation about potential financial and political links to the alleged conspiracy.
