Coup controversy: Military tracks N45bn in NDDC

Coup Controversy: Military Tracks N45bn in NDDC

In a startling development that has gripped Nigeria’s political and security landscape, the military has reportedly uncovered a financial trail linking ₦45 billion in disbursements from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to a group of detained soldiers and politically exposed individuals allegedly connected to a rumored coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The controversy began earlier in October 2025 when Sahara Reporters claimed that 16 Nigerian Army officers had been detained for allegedly planning a coup d’état.

The report suggested that the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day celebrations by the Federal Government may have triggered the alleged conspiracy.

However, the military swiftly denied these claims. Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, clarified that the detained officers were being investigated for professional misconduct, not for plotting a coup.

Despite the denial, the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) launched a deeper investigation, which led to a raid on the Abuja residence of former Bayelsa State governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva.

Sylva’s younger brother, Paga, and his driver were arrested during the operation, although Sylva himself was reportedly abroad for medical checks and a professional conference.

His media aide, Chief Julius Bokoru, dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, attributing them to rivals within the All Progressives Congress (APC) aiming to undermine Sylva’s influence ahead of the 2027 elections.

The investigation took a dramatic turn when DIA operatives began interrogating top officials of the NDDC. Sources revealed that the probe focused on high-value transactions, including a shoreline project awarded to a former South-South governor valued at ₦45 billion.

Portions of these funds allegedly ended up in the accounts of some of the detained military officers. This revelation has sparked panic within the NDDC, with many senior officials reportedly anxious about the potential expansion of the probe into broader financial dealings within the commission.

Security insiders described the inquiry as part of a larger intelligence-driven effort to trace the movement of public funds and their possible use in subversive activities.

The NDDC’s spokesperson, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, declined to comment on the matter, while the Managing Director of the commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, formerly Chief of Staff to Sylva denied any involvement or arrest, stating he was only aware of the situation through social media.

The raid on Sylva’s residence reportedly caused significant property damage, although no incriminating materials were seized.

Bokoru emphasized Sylva’s democratic credentials and longstanding support for President Tinubu, asserting that the former governor had no involvement in any coup planning or logistics. He characterized the rumors as the handiwork of “desperate and narcissistic politicians” threatened by Sylva’s political stature.

As the investigation continues, the Nigerian public remains on edge, watching closely as the military and intelligence agencies unravel the financial and political threads of this complex and controversial episode.