Timipre Sylva’s Abuja home raided by military over coup plot

Former Bayelsa governor Timipre Sylva’s Abuja house was reportedly raided by investigators on Saturday, with military operatives arresting his younger brother, Paga, who is his Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, and going away with his driver.

The raid comes amid military investigators probing an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu. They grilled a managing director of a federal government agency in the South-South region.

The former minister and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain was outside the country during the operation.

Two intelligence officers stated that the MD was arrested for allegedly transferring a large sum of money to Timipre Sylva, a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources who has been identified as one of the financiers of the purported plot to overthrow the government.

According to reports, detectives suspect the payments were intended to bankroll the coup.

“The MD (name withheld) 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 presently answering questions about what the money was meant for.”

Sources with knowledge of the operation explained that Timipre was planning to return to the country when he heard that the coup leaders had been arrested. He thus shelved his plan to return home.

“Sylva’s Abuja home was raided on Saturday, but he wasn’t around. His younger brother, Paga, who is the SA, domestic, and the driver, was arrested.

“Investigators believe Sylva allegedly funded the coup plot. Sylva was abroad and was preparing to leave for Nigeria when he got wind of the arrest of the coup leaders. So, he stayed back.”

Maj-Gen Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, and Brig-Gen Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, were unavailable for comment on Tuesday after failing to answer our reporter’s calls.

Gusau stated on October 4 that 16 officers had been jailed for violating military regulations and engaging in acts of indiscipline.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to inform the public that a routine military exercise has resulted in the arrest of sixteen officers over issues of indiscipline and breach of service regulations.

“Investigations have revealed that their grievances stemmed largely from perceived career stagnation caused by repeated failure in promotion examinations,” the statement partly read.

However, SaharaReporters said that the imprisoned officials, ranging in rank from captain to brigadier general, were being held by the Defense Intelligence Agency for allegedly planning to overthrow the government.

It further claimed that the officers were arrested in their homes around the country.

“The 16 officers were planning a coup. The military authorities were just being diplomatic in the statement released by the spokesperson. They have started holding secret meetings on how to overthrow the president and other top government officials,” SaharaReporters quoted an unnamed official.