Military investigators probing the alleged attempted coup against President Bola Tinubu’s administration have enlisted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to trace financial transactions linked to individuals suspected of bankrolling the plot, Punch has learnt.
Reliable sources who spoke with Punch revealed that several bank accounts belonging to both military officers and civilians under investigation may have been frozen as part of the ongoing probe.
Although the development could not be independently confirmed, a senior security official described it as “standard procedure in cases of national security breaches.”
Multiple security sources have confirmed that both agencies have initiated a forensic investigation into the accounts of the suspects, focusing on deposits, withdrawals, and transfer histories to identify suspicious financial patterns.
“The EFCC and NFIU are carrying out a forensic investigation on the bank accounts of the soldiers and the civilians involved in the plot to overthrow the Federal Government,” one senior intelligence source told The Punch.
The scope of the investigation has also reportedly expanded to include the associates and business partners of the key suspects, as authorities intensify efforts to unravel the full financial network behind the plot.
The latest development follows earlier reports alleging that about ₦45 billion was transferred from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to individuals linked to the alleged coup financiers.
According to Sahara Reporters, 16 Nigerian Army officers were initially detained over the plot, which was said to have influenced the cancellation of the country’s 65th Independence Day parade.
However, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, denied the coup allegation, stating that the detained officers were being investigated for “disciplinary breaches” within the military, not for planning a takeover.
Sylva Denies Coup Allegation After Home Raid
As part of the broader probe, security operatives recently raided the Abuja home of former Bayelsa State governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, arresting his younger brother, Paga, and his driver.
Sylva, who was reportedly abroad at the time, later denied any involvement in the alleged plot through his spokesman, Chief Julius Bokoru.
Bokoru confirmed the raid but dismissed the allegations as politically motivated.
Security insiders confirmed to Punch on Thursday that the military is relying heavily on the EFCC and NFIU to uncover the financial networks that supported the alleged conspiracy.
“This is discreet intelligence work. Until the entire exercise is concluded, we cannot provide a list of all those involved, how much was deployed for the plot or the amount recovered. The investigators are relying on the EFCC and NFIU for this,” a security source who is privy to the investigation disclosed.
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