By Bukola Kayode
Former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva has turned out to be a major target as military investigators investigate an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu.
Also being questioned as part of the investigation is the Managing Director of a Federal Government agency in the South South region, the Punch reports.
The national daily quotes its intelligence sources as confirming that the MD was arrested for allegedly transferring a huge figure to a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who was fingered as one of the financiers of the alleged plot to change the government forcefully.
According to reports, investigators believe the funds were meant to finance the coup, which has seen a number of officers arrested. The failed coup has also been linked to the change of service chiefs by the President.
“The MD (name withheld) transferred a huge sum of money to Sylva. Investigators are working on the theory that the fund transfer was connected to the coup. He is presently answering questions about what the money was meant for”, the source was quoted as saying.
Sylva, who is also a former Minister of State Petroleum also has his Abuja house raided by investigators on Saturday, with military operatives arresting his younger brother, Paga, who is his Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs and went away with his driver.
The former minister and All Progressives Congress chieftain was outside the country during the operation.
Sources with knowledge of the operation explained that he was planning to return to the country when he heard that the coup leaders had been arrested. He thus shelved his plan to return home.
“Sylva’s Abuja home was raided on Saturday, but he wasn’t around. His younger brother, Paga, who is the SA, Domestic, and the driver, were arrested. Investigators believe Sylva allegedly funded the coup plot. Sylva was abroad and was preparing to leave for Nigeria when he got wind of the arrest of the coup leaders. So, he stayed back.”
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