Military investigators have uncovered about N11 billion in several bank accounts belonging to a Colonel currently in detention over an alleged coup plot involving senior Army officers.
According to highly placed security sources, it eas confirmed that the discovery further strengthened suspicions linking the officer to the reported conspiracy.
According to a source close to the investigation, the Colonel, who previously served under a Brigadier-General, also under scrutiny, was once deployed to the Niger Delta region.
“When interrogated, the Colonel claimed that the funds belonged to a former governor, whom he described as his business partner.
“He insisted that the money was meant for a legitimate business transaction,” the sources stated.
The on-going probe is part of broader intelligence surveillance that began after reports surfaced in August 2024, suggesting possible plan by some serving military officers to topple the government.
Security sources disclosed that the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) had been monitoring communications, financial transactions, and foreign links connected to the suspects, long before their arrests were made.
“The coup plotters have been under the radar since August 2024, when the security got wind of the plot.
“They mapped out three different times to strike, two of which were the June 12th, Democracy Day and l October 1st, Independence Day this year.
“They met in the UK and Turkey this year. But the DIA was patiently gathering facts and evidence before swooping on them,” sources disclosed.
Intelligence gathered during surveillance reportedly influenced changes in President Bola Tinubu’s movement patterns.
“The first countermeasure taken was to divert the President’s movement in recent times, in zig-zag fashion.
“There was credible intelligence that they would execute the coup operation on October 1st, and that was why the Independence Day celebration fanfare was cancelled.
“It was an operation that lasted for over a year, since August, last year. But the service was ahead of them because they had access to their communications,” the sources disclosed.
