Coup Probe Deepens: Military Grills Federal Agency MD Over Alleged Fund Transfers to Timipre Sylva

The investigation into an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu has taken a new turn, with military intelligence operatives reportedly interrogating the Managing Director of a Federal Government agency in the South-South region over suspicious financial transactions linked to former Petroleum Minister, Timipre Sylva.

Multiple security insiders confirmed that the MD, whose name is being withheld, was detained after investigators traced a large fund transfer from his agency to Sylva. The transaction is believed to have been intended to finance the alleged coup plot currently being probed by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

“The MD transferred a huge sum of money to Sylva,” a top intelligence officer said. “Investigators are working on the theory that the money was tied to the coup plan, and he is now being questioned about the purpose of that payment.”

The development follows a weekend raid on Sylva’s residence in Abuja by a special military team. His younger brother, Paga — who serves as his Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs — was arrested alongside his driver. Sylva, a former Bayelsa State governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, was said to be out of the country when the raid occurred.

Sources close to the investigation said Sylva had initially planned to return to Nigeria but reportedly shelved the trip after learning that several senior military officers accused of involvement in the alleged plot had been arrested. “He stayed back abroad after hearing about the detentions,” one source disclosed.

The DIA has remained silent on the latest arrests, while the Defence Headquarters has yet to issue any official clarification. Calls to the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, and the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, went unanswered on Tuesday.

Earlier this month, the Defence Headquarters confirmed that 16 senior officers had been detained over what it described as “breaches of military regulations and acts of indiscipline,” though it denied any link to a coup plot. The statement suggested that the officers’ grievances were due to “perceived career stagnation” and repeated failures in promotion exams.

However, separate security sources insist the detentions are tied to an alleged plan to overthrow the Tinubu-led administration. Sahara Reporters had earlier revealed that officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force — ranging from the rank of Captain to Brigadier General — were picked up in coordinated raids across several states and have been held incommunicado at a DIA facility in Abuja.