By Abiola Olawale
The controversy surrounding an alleged coup plot against the Bola Tinubu administration has escalated, drawing the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, into the military’s investigative dragnet.
Reports indicate that the ongoing probe by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has uncovered an alleged financial trail of N45 billion disbursed from the NDDC’s accounts, allegedly linked to politically exposed persons and military officers detained over the rumoured conspiracy.
According to reports, Ogbuku has been allegedly arrested for transferring part of the N45 billion to the immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who is suspected of financing the purported coup.
According to sources quoted by media reports, the military’s focus has widened beyond the initially detained officers to scrutinise high-value financial transactions from the NDDC.
The N45 billion in question is reportedly part of a payment for a shoreline project awarded to Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa State, with a portion allegedly finding its way into the accounts of some of the detained military personnel.
Sources quoted by media reports claimed: “Mr Ogbuku allegedly transferred a substantial sum of money to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who is suspected of financing the purported coup.
“Investigators are examining whether the funds were intended to support an attempt to remove the president from office.
The Defence Intelligence Agency investigators are also said to be grilling some other top NDDC officials about the sources of the fund, beneficiaries, and how it was utilised.
The development has set off panic alarms at the NDDC headquarters over alleged links to the financing of subversive activities.
The source added: “Since the news broke about the interrogation of the top shots, the atmosphere here has been uneasy. Many directors are being cautious about their movements and communications.”
However, recall that Sylva has debunked reports linking him to an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of Tinubu.
Sylva who spoke through his Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Chief Julius Bokoru, said the rumour in some quarters is the handiwork of ‘’desperate and self-seeking politicians trying to actualise their ambitions in 2027.’’
Bokoru, however, confirmed that Sylva’s Abuja home was raided by Defence Intelligence Agency operatives.
During the raid, which took place on Saturday, Bokoru claimed that the operatives arrested Sylva’s younger brother, Paga, who is his Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, and also took his driver into custody.
