N11bn Found in Detained Colonel’s Accounts as Coup Plot Probe Deepens

Military intelligence has reportedly uncovered about N11 billion in the bank accounts of a colonel detained over an alleged coup plot involving several senior military officers, SK News has learnt.

According to top security sources, the discovery has strengthened suspicions linking the detained officer to the reported coup plans. The colonel, who previously served under a brigadier general also under investigation, had been deployed to the Niger Delta before his arrest.

During interrogation, the officer allegedly claimed the funds belonged to a former governor, whom he described as his business associate. He maintained that the money was meant for a legitimate business deal.

The ongoing probe forms part of a wider investigation that began after intelligence reports in August 2024 hinted at a plot by some serving military officers to overthrow the government. The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) reportedly began monitoring the suspects’ communications, financial transactions, and foreign contacts months before the first arrests.

Sources revealed that the alleged coup plotters had planned to strike on three separate occasions—June 12 (Democracy Day), October 1 (Independence Day), and an undisclosed third date. The suspects reportedly held meetings in the United Kingdom and Turkey, while the DIA gathered evidence discreetly before acting.

Intelligence from the investigation prompted a review of presidential movements, leading to increased security around President Bola Tinubu. Sources said this was one of the reasons for Tinubu’s frequent stays in Lagos and reduced presence in Abuja. The President’s itinerary was reportedly adjusted after credible intelligence indicated that October 1 could be a target date, leading to the cancellation of the Independence Day celebrations.

Last Friday, President Tinubu dismissed all the service chiefs in what sources described as a strategic move to maintain balance and prevent speculation. The removal of former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, was said to be partly due to a public statement issued by the Defence Headquarters confirming the arrest of 16 officers. Insiders described that disclosure as a management error that risked causing panic and international concern.

Although the Defence Headquarters has publicly denied any coup attempt, maintaining that the detained officers are merely undergoing internal scrutiny, intelligence operations by the DIA reportedly point to an ongoing, sensitive investigation.

Two weeks ago, online reports suggested that 16 officers had been arrested in connection with the alleged coup, followed by further searches and detentions—including a raid on the Abuja residence of former governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva. Reports also indicated that most of the detained officers are from the northern part of the country, a factor that has made the authorities cautious about public communications to avoid ethnic tension or political misinterpretation within the military.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force has announced a reshuffle of senior officers, appointing 19 new commanders and redeploying six others to various defence and inter-service roles. The reorganisation, according to NAF spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, is aimed at improving coordination, decision-making, and operational readiness under the leadership of the new Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke.

The restructuring comes just a day after a similar reorganisation in the Nigerian Army, signalling a broader move to strengthen command structures amid ongoing security reviews.