N11bn coup plot probe exposes colonel’s secret accounts as DIA tracks senior officers over alleged scheme to overthrow Nigeria’s government

The N11bn coup plot probe has taken a dramatic turn after military intelligence reportedly traced huge sums of money to the bank accounts of a detained colonel implicated in an alleged plan to overthrow Nigeria’s government.

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According to top-level security sources, the discovery directly connected the officer to the alleged plot, deepening suspicions about a wider network of conspirators within the armed forces.

Investigators said the colonel, who had served under a brigadier general also under probe, previously held a sensitive posting in the Niger Delta.

During interrogation, he reportedly claimed that the funds belonged to a former governor, whom he described as his business partner. He insisted the money was meant for a legitimate private venture.

Sources told Sunday PUNCH that the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has been tracking communications, financial movements, and foreign links tied to the suspects since August 2024, when initial intelligence hinted at a possible coup attempt.

“They met in the UK and Turkey this year, but the DIA had them under full surveillance,” one officer said. “They had planned three strike dates—June 12, Independence Day on October 1, and another that was foiled.”

The heightened monitoring reportedly influenced recent presidential security decisions, including President Bola Tinubu’s frequent stays in Lagos and reduced public appearances in Abuja.

“There was credible intelligence pointing to October 1 as the day of action,” another source disclosed. “That’s partly why Independence Day celebrations were cancelled.”

Service Chiefs Dismissed Amid Tensions

Last Friday, President Tinubu sacked all service chiefs, a move insiders say was intended to mask disciplinary action against the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, whose disclosure of 16 arrests was described as a “management error.”

“That information should never have been made public,” a security official said. “It risked legitimising the alleged plot and creating unnecessary panic.”

Muted Public Reaction and Quiet Realignments

Despite official denials of any coup attempt, ongoing DIA operations continue to fuel speculation. Earlier, Sahara Reporters and Premium Times revealed the detention of 16 officers—mostly from northern states—raising concerns about ethnic sensitivities within the military hierarchy.

Analysts believe the government’s measured communication strategy is aimed at preventing political or regional misinterpretations that could destabilise the armed forces.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force has announced new postings for 19 senior officers and redeployed six others as part of efforts to strengthen command structures under Air Marshal Sunday Aneke.

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The restructuring, officials say, is designed to boost operational efficiency and reinforce readiness amid the ongoing N11bn coup plot probe and broader national security challenges.