COUP PLOT: How DIA, NFIU, EFCC, Tracked and Uncovered Ex-Governor Sylva’s Transaction

Fresh details have emerged from the ongoing investigation into the Coup Plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu, with security sources indicating that financial trails linked to the aborted plan were traced to accounts associated with former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva.

Operatives of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), working alongside the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), tracked substantial sums of money allegedly connected to the failed coup attempt to financial accounts linked to Sylva.

According to Daily Sun,  Sylva became a focus of investigators after some of the detained military officers reportedly identified him as a major financier of the plot. He had earlier served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and is a prominent figure within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

This newspaper learned that when Findings were first presented to President Tinubu, he expressed scepticism and demanded verifiable evidence. This reportedly prompted the DIA to expand the investigation to include the EFCC and NFIU, leading to an extensive review of suspicious transactions.

Officials involved in the inquiry said the combined findings from the DIA, NFIU and EFCC were detailed enough to convince the President that the plot went beyond speculation and amounted to a concrete attempt to subvert constitutional order.

Confessions and alleged modus operandi

It was confirmed that several officers, including a Brigadier General, Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels and a Captain, had confessed to their roles in the plot. They allegedly revealed that they were “conscripted” into the plan, which involved using drones and advanced technology rather than heavy troop deployment.

Sylva, who was said to be aggrieved over his exclusion from the Tinubu administration, was also accused of engaging in illegal bunkering and other illicit operations in the Niger Delta. Months ago, military sources suggested that the identities of the officers involved would be made public in the coming weeks ahead of a General Court Martial which has now turned out to be true.

Amid the unfolding investigation, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) carried out a raid on Sylva’s residence in Abuja, contrary to earlier claims that the operation was conducted by the military. The raid, sources said, formed part of efforts to gather further intelligence connected to the probe.

Sylva has, however, strongly denied any involvement in the alleged coup. In a statement issued by his media aide, Julius Bokoru, the former governor described the allegations as a politically motivated attempt to tarnish his reputation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Bokoru confirmed that Sylva’s residence sustained damage during the raid but said no explanation or warrant was presented by the operatives. He added that Sylva and his wife were outside the country at the time, with Sylva said to be undergoing medical checks in the United Kingdom before travelling to Malaysia for a professional engagement.

The statement emphasised that Sylva had a long record of democratic participation and loyalty to the APC leadership, insisting that he had no role direct or indirect in any plot against the Tinubu administration.