Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, is at the center of a widening investigation into an alleged coup plot to overthrow Nigerian President Bola Tinubu. According to multiple security sources, Sylva has reportedly fled Nigeria via the creeks of the Niger Delta, heading first to Senegal and allegedly planning to continue to Argentina, where he is said to have business interests.
The investigation, led by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), intensified following the arrest of a senior military officer who allegedly named Sylva as the principal financier and coordinator of the suspected plot. Intelligence officials are probing a N46 billion transfer linked to an account reportedly associated with Sylva, raising suspicions about the source and intended use of the funds Naija News REPORT AFRIQUE International.
Security operatives raided Sylva’s Abuja residence over the weekend, detaining his younger brother Paga Sylva, who serves as his Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs. The operation followed an earlier raid on Sylva’s Bayelsa home, where investigators reportedly uncovered foreign currency and documents believed to be connected to the case Vanguard Naija News.
While the Defence Headquarters and Nigerian Army have not issued formal statements, sources confirm that a special military team conducted the raids based on intelligence linking Sylva to secret meetings with detained officers. The former minister had allegedly been lobbying for a diplomatic posting as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Argentina, a move now under scrutiny given the unfolding investigation nigeriantracker.com.
The situation remains fluid, with no official confirmation of Sylva’s current whereabouts. The Federal Government has yet to issue a warrant or formal charges, but the scale of the investigation suggests that further arrests and disclosures may follow.
As of now, neither the presidency nor the Nigerian military has publicly commented on the allegations, and efforts to reach spokespeople for clarification have been unsuccessful.
Former Minister of State for Petroleum Timipre Sylva Picture © Reuters
Sources:
Naija NewsNaija News; REPORT AFRIQUE InternationalReport Afrique; VanguardVanguard; Naija NewsNaija News; nigeriantracker.comNigerian Tracker
