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Special Report: Recall that Sahara Reporters had first broken the news about the alleged military coup against President Bola Tinubu in September, which the military earlier denied. This was even as military sources confirmed that, indeed, there was an attempted plot to overthrow Tinubu and that those arrested were arrested because of it.
The Nigerian Defence Military Headquarters, however, realizing the growing tension after the alleged coup leakage focused its statement on Sahara Reporters news release that said the 1 October Independence Day parade was cancelled because of the plot.
Surprisingly, DHQ insists that there was no coup except erring officers who have been arrested for professional misconduct. There followed a report again from Premium Times, maintaining that 20 officers have been arrested by the military after realizing that indeed, there was a coup. The Newspaper reported that first, 16 military officers were first arrested in September.
In a similar vein, Afrikanwatch Network in its findings from a close ally of President Tinubu, said that there was alleged N1billion funds found and deposited, allegedly being sponsored by a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva.
Meanwhile Punch had reported today that the Military investigators probing an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu are reportedly grilling a Managing Director of a Federal Government agency in the South South region, The PUNCH has learnt.
According to the reputable newspapers, it further reports:
Two intelligence officers confirmed that the MD was arrested for allegedly transferring a huge sum of money to a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who was fingered as one of the financiers of the alleged plot to forcefully change the government.
According to reports, investigators believe the funds were meant to finance 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.”
Former Bayelsa governor 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 went away with his driver.
The former minister and All Progressives Congress chieftain was outside the country during the operation.
Sources with knowledge of the operation explained that he 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, were 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.”
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Markus Kangye, and the Director of Defence Information, Brig-Gen Tukur Gusau, could not be reached for comments on Tuesday as they didn’t pick up calls from our reporter.
Gusau had, in a statement on October 4, said that 16 officers were detained for breaches of military regulations and acts of indiscipline.
“Investigations have revealed that their grievances stemmed largely from perceived career stagnation caused by repeated failure in promotion examinations,” the statement partly read.
However, online platform SaharaReporters claimed that the detained officers — ranging from the rank of Captain to Brigadier General —were being held by the Defence Intelligence Agency for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government.
It also alleged that the officers were arrested at their homes across 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.
“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.
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