Fresh details have emerged in the ongoing investigation into an alleged coup plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu, with security operatives reportedly interrogating a managing director of a federal government agency in the South-South region.
According to findings by The PUNCH and other reputable sources, the agency boss was picked up by military investigators over a suspicious transfer of a large sum of money to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva.
Two senior intelligence officials confirmed that the investigators are probing whether the funds were linked to a broader plan to finance a coup d’état.
“The MD (name withheld) transferred a huge sum to Sylva. Investigators are working on the theory that the funds were connected to the alleged coup,” one of the officers told The PUNCH. “He’s being questioned on what exactly the money was meant for.”
Raids and Arrests Linked to the Investigation
Over the weekend, operatives reportedly raided Mr Sylva’s Abuja residence, arresting his younger brother, Paga — who also serves as his Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs — along with his driver.
Mr Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa State and prominent member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was said to be outside the country when the operation took place. Multiple sources familiar with the incident said he postponed his planned return to Nigeria after learning that several alleged coup collaborators had been arrested.
“He was abroad and preparing to come home when he heard about the arrests. He stayed back,” a top security source told The PUNCH.
Military’s Official Silence
Efforts to get comments from the Defence Headquarters on Tuesday were unsuccessful. Both the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, and the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, did not respond to calls.
However, the Defence Headquarters had earlier, on October 4, confirmed the detention of 16 military officers for “acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations.”
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to inform the public that a routine military exercise has resulted in the arrest of sixteen officers,” the statement read. “Investigations have revealed that their grievances stemmed largely from perceived career stagnation due to repeated failures in promotion examinations.”
Despite the cautious wording, several reports — including those by Sahara Reporters — have alleged that the detained officers, ranging from the rank of Captain to Brigadier General, were being held for their role in a planned coup.
A senior military insider who spoke anonymously described the arrests as “preventive,” insisting that the authorities moved swiftly after detecting secret meetings among some officers.
Sudden Sacking of Service Chiefs
In a swift and striking move, President Bola Tinubu replaced nearly all of Nigeria’s service chiefs on October 24, 2025 — a shake-up that analysts say is closely tied to the ongoing probe into a suspected coup plot. According to multiple reports, just weeks earlier some 16 military officers had been detained in connection with alleged plans to overthrow the government, and though the official line described their arrest as a “routine disciplinary exercise,” media coverage and intelligence sources linked the detentions to a possible coup.
By timing the leadership overhaul immediately after the suspicions emerged, the administration appears to be signalling a tightening of control over the armed forces — a move seen by many as aimed at cutting off any internal threat before it materialises. The official statement offered security reasons for the appointments, but the backdrop of alleged clandestine meetings among senior officers lends a very different interpretative frame.
Political Ripples and Wider Implications
The fresh twist — involving a sitting federal agency head and a former minister — has sent ripples through Abuja’s political and security circles. While no formal charges have been filed, the allegations, if confirmed, could mark one of the most serious internal security threats to the Tinubu administration since it took office.
Analysts note that Nigeria, which has been under democratic rule since 1999, has not witnessed a successful coup in over three decades. Yet, the recent arrests underscore lingering discontent within sections of the military.
“The coup scare is a reminder that Nigeria’s democracy remains fragile,” said a defence analyst quoted by Premium Times. “Issues like poor welfare, stalled promotions, and internal grievances continue to test the loyalty of some officers.”
Next Steps
Sources within the military say the Defence Intelligence Agency has been directed to trace all financial flows linked to the alleged plot. Investigators are also said to be reviewing communications between the detained officers and their civilian contacts.
As of press time, neither Sylva nor his media aides had publicly commented on the allegations. The Presidency has also yet to issue a statement.
Meanwhile, public commentators and civil groups have urged transparency in the investigation, warning against politicising what could be a sensitive national security matter.
“Nigerians deserve full disclosure on this issue,” said the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) in a brief statement. “The military must ensure professionalism and avoid witch-hunts.”
A Nation on Alert
While official channels continue to downplay the situation as a “disciplinary matter,” intelligence sources suggest that the Armed Forces remain on high alert. Surveillance has reportedly been intensified around key military installations in Abuja and other state capitals.
Whether the alleged plot was an organised attempt to seize power or simply the result of internal discontent remains unclear. But the ongoing probe — stretching from uniformed officers to top civilian officials — marks one of the most serious tests of Nigeria’s stability under President Tinubu’s watch.
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