Military investigators probing the alleged attempted coup are collaborating with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to trace financial transactions linked to individuals accused of funding the plot.
Indications have emerged that the bank accounts of some suspects may have been frozen as part of the ongoing investigation. Although officials declined to confirm the development, a security source described it as a standard procedure in cases of this nature.
Multiple security sources confirmed that the EFCC and NFIU are conducting a forensic analysis of the bank accounts belonging to both the soldiers and civilians implicated in the alleged plot to overthrow the Federal Government.
The investigation covers transaction histories, deposits, withdrawals, and fund transfers to detect suspicious activity and determine the origin of funds as well as the true owners of the accounts. It has also expanded to include the associates and business partners of key suspects.
This development follows the reported discovery of a ₦45 billion transfer from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) allegedly linked to the coup plotters.
Sahara Reporters earlier revealed that 16 Nigerian Army officers were arrested for planning to overthrow President Bola Tinubu, allegedly motivated by the Federal Government’s cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day celebration.
However, the Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, denied that the officers’ detention was connected to a coup attempt.
As the probe intensified, security operatives raided the Abuja residence of former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva, detaining his younger brother, Paga, and his driver. Sylva, reportedly abroad at the time, denied involvement through his spokesman, Chief Julius Bokoru, who blamed political opponents for attempting to implicate him.
Military insiders disclosed that the EFCC and NFIU are providing intelligence support to uncover the financial networks behind the alleged plot.
A source involved in the probe said: “This is discreet intelligence work. Until investigations are concluded, we can’t disclose names, the amounts involved, or funds recovered. The EFCC and NFIU are key to tracing the money trail.”
Efforts to reach EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale and NFIU’s Aishatu Bantam were unsuccessful as they did not respond to calls.
Meanwhile, the names of the 16 alleged coup suspects have surfaced. They include a brigadier general, a colonel, four lieutenant colonels, five majors, two captains, and a lieutenant, alongside a lieutenant commander from the Navy and a squadron leader from the Air Force.
They were reportedly led by Brig. Gen. Musa Abubakar Sadiq, with others identified as Col. M.A. Ma’aji, Lt. Col. S. Bappah, Lt. Col. A.A. Hayatu, Lt. Col. P. Dangnap, Lt. Col. M. Almakura, Major A.J. Ibrahim, Major M.M. Jiddah, Major M.A. Usman, Major D. Yusuf, Major I. Dauda, Capt. Ibrahim Bello, Capt. A.A. Yusuf, Lt. S.S. Felix, Lt. Commander D.B. Abdullahi, and Squadron Leader S.B. Adamu.
Verified source reported that 12 of the 14 army officers were from the Infantry Corps, one from the Signals Corps, and another from the Ordnance Corps.
Separately, The Cable reported that Squadron Leader S.B. Adamu, an Air Force officer recently posted to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), was allegedly detailed to assassinate NSA Nuhu Ribadu.
Adamu (Service No. NAF/3481), from Jigawa State, was deployed to the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) an agency under ONSA about four weeks before the alleged plot was uncovered.
Contrary to earlier reports suggesting several suspects worked directly under ONSA, investigators confirmed Adamu was the only one linked through the NCTC.
Military insiders revealed that when the National Coordinator of NCTC, Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka, requested a specific officer’s posting in August 2025, the request was unexpectedly declined, and Adamu was assigned instead, a move now raising suspicions of infiltration within the military hierarchy.
Adamu is reportedly a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s Regular Course 59.
