The ongoing military investigation into the alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s administration has reportedly uncovered a suspicious ₦45 billion transaction allegedly linked to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
According to emerging reports, the funds were allegedly traced to the accounts of some politically exposed persons and detained soldiers under investigation for alleged involvement in the purported plot.
Military, NDDC Officials Under Scrutiny
The revelation has sparked tension within both the NDDC and the political establishment, even as the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) maintains that there was no coup attempt, describing the reports as “false, misleading, and malicious.”
Earlier speculation had connected the supposed plot to the Federal Government’s cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day celebration. Security sources also claimed that Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) operatives recently searched the Abuja residence of former Bayelsa governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, as part of ongoing investigations.
In a statement, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, clarified that the 16 military officers currently in custody were being questioned for professional misconduct, not for attempting a coup.
₦45bn Transaction Under Investigation
Investigators reportedly summoned top NDDC officials to explain the source and flow of the ₦45 billion. The suspicious payments, linked to a shoreline project allegedly awarded to a former South-South governor, are believed to have been funneled into accounts associated with some of the detained soldiers.
Security insiders told journalists that the probe forms part of a larger intelligence-led audit into how public funds have been moved in recent months.
“Since news of the interrogation broke, the atmosphere here has been tense. Many directors are being careful with their communications and movements,”
a senior NDDC insider was quoted as saying.
Reports suggest that some executive directors connected to the embattled officials fear the investigation could widen and implicate other top figures within the commission.
When contacted, NDDC spokesperson Seledi Thompson-Wakama declined to comment on the development.
Government Maintains There’s No Coup Threat
Despite the revelations, the Federal Government continues to insist that there is no active coup plot against President Tinubu. However, the alleged ₦45 billion financial trail has deepened public concern about the potential link between mismanaged public funds, political influence, and national security risks.
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