*Sylva Not Involved, Insists Aide
*I’m Not Aware Of Such, Says Ogbuku
*Activist Describes Reports As Fake News, Political Mischief
MILITARY investigators of the alleged coup plot have reportedly uncovered N45billion transferred from the bank accounts of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to some politicians and the soldiers detained in connection with the attempt to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu.
Recall that earlier this month, SaharaReporters had published a story of 16 Nigerian Army officers being detained for allegedly plotting a coup to topple Tinubu and had linked the plot to the Federal Government’s cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day.
In its reaction, the military, in a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Brig-Gen. Tukur Gusau, dismissed the report linking the ordeal of the officers to a failed coup, describing it as “false, misleading and malicious.”
It insisted that the officers were being investigated for professional misconduct, not a coup plot.
The Federal Government had also denied the coup rumour.
However, recent reports said some Army personnel raided the Abuja residence of former minister of State for PetroleumState, Timipre Sylva, in connection with the plot.
The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) investigators were said to have earlier interrogated some top NDDC officials over the sources of the funds, beneficiaries and how it was utilised.
Investigators were reported to have scrutinised a series of recent transactions linked to the politicians, including a N45billion shoreline contract allegedly awarded to Sylva, some of which were traced to the account of some of the detained officers.
Meanwhile, Sylva has denied involvement in the alleged plot. His media aide, Julius Bokoru, described the report as the handiwork of “desperate and self-seeking politicians trying to actualise their ambitions in 2027.”
But he confirmed reports that Sylva’s Abuja home was raided on Saturday, October 25, by military operatives probing the plot, who arrested Paga, an aide and younger brother of the former Bayelsa State governor and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), said to be outside the country at the time of the operation.
Bokoru said the operatives did not remove anything from his boss’ residence during the operation, adding that Paga and his driver were yet to be released from custody.
He noted that no reason was provided for the raid, even as he denied reports that Sylva’s Yenagoa residence was raided by the operatives.
The aide stated that Sylva was in the United Kingdom (UK) for routine medical checks and would soon be on his way to Malaysia to attend “a professional conference,” adding: “It’s not true. It is the handiwork of people in the state APC who are concerned about their governorship ambition in 2027.
“Those doing this are in the state APC. It is about the 2027 governorship ambition. They are appointees of the Federal Government and instead of focusing on their work, they are playing local toxic politics.
“Such wicked politicians took their desperation to a nauseating level, following Sylva’s intimidating political presence and credibility that had continued to expose their self-serving ambitions and evil agenda.”
He dismissed allegations linking the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, to Sylva as part of the coup plot.
Similarly, the Managing Director of the NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, who was chief of staff to Sylva when he was governor, dismissed reports of his arrest and interrogation, saying to Punch, in a short message: “I’m not aware of such. Just the way you are seeing it is the same way I’m seeing it too on social media.”
In the same vein, Chairman of the Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum and Publisher of Integrity Watchdog magazine, Prince Kpokpogri, urged Nigerians to disregard such reports, which he described as “fake, speculative and the handiwork of political saboteurs,” saying such misinformation only fuels unnecessary tension and undermines public trust in security institutions.
In a press statement issued in Abuja, Kpokpogri said he was speaking as a concerned citizen disturbed by the growing culture of spreading unverified information, noting: “When has being interrogated amounted to being arrested in a sane environment where people do not read meanings into the professional routine job of security agencies?
“When has it become a crime to answer questions, as a friend to a suspect undergoing investigation?
“Who is actually afraid of Ogbuku over the next Bayelsa election that he has not even declared his intention for?”
Kpokpogri dismissed insinuations that Ogbuku’s closeness to Sylva implicated him in any alleged coup plot, insisting that while security agencies reserve the right to invite or question associates of any person under investigation, such actions should not be misrepresented as arrests or indictments.
“The security agencies have every right to ask questions from friends or associates of Sylva after raiding his house in Abuja.
“But that should not be misconstrued to mean that the NDDC boss was arrested or connected to any coup plot.”
He clarified that his intervention was not as an aide or ally of Ogbuku, but as a patriotic Nigerian concerned about the damage caused by misinformation, adding: “My issue here is the peddling of falsehood and the deliberate attempt to malign one of the most patriotic Nigerians and arguably the best administrator the NDDC has ever had.”
On reports linking Sylva to an alleged N45billion traced to his account, Kpokpogri cautioned against hasty conclusions, saying if Sylva were indeed paid by the NDDC, it must have been done in line with contractual obligations and not as part of any clandestine dealings.
“He is a contractor to the NDDC, just like many others, handling the Shoreline Protection Project. Payments were made through due process, and what he does with his money is his personal responsibility.”
Kpokpogri stressed that the NDDC is not run by one individual, but by a collective Management Board, and attempts to single out Ogbuku for political or personal attacks are both unfair and unfounded.
He stated: “So far, Ogbuku has demonstrated the integrity and transparency needed to lead an institution like the NDDC.
“We must stop weaponising fake news for political gain.”
