Timipre Sylva Denies Link to Alleged Coup Plot, Confirms Trip Abroad for Medical and Professional Reasons

Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and ex-Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, has dismissed reports linking him to an alleged coup plot, describing the claims as “politically motivated.”

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his media aide, Julius Bokoru, Sylva denied fleeing the country to evade questioning, clarifying that he is currently in the United Kingdom for medical reasons and will later attend a professional conference in Malaysia.

“For the avoidance of doubt, it is true that Mr Timipre Sylva’s residence was recently subjected to a raid by individuals believed to be operatives of the Defence Headquarters,” Bokoru said. “However, both Mr Sylva and his wife, Alanyingi Sylva, were outside the country at the time of the incident.”

Bokoru noted that the former minister’s Abuja home suffered significant damage during the raid, with no explanation or official authorisation provided by the security personnel involved.

“Despite sustained efforts, I have been unable to ascertain the reasons or authorisation for this raid. The officers did not provide any categorical explanation for their actions, either at the time or subsequently,” he added.

Addressing the alleged coup plot, Bokoru stressed that Sylva had “no involvement whatsoever—either in planning or logistics—with any such plot,” noting that the Defence Headquarters had already dismissed the rumours.

“Mr Sylva is a thoroughbred democrat whose entire political journey has been defined by faith in democratic processes and institutions,” the statement read. “From his days in the old Rivers State House of Assembly to his tenure as Governor of Bayelsa, he has achieved every milestone through transparent and democratic engagement.”

Bokoru accused political opponents of orchestrating a smear campaign, describing the reports as the handiwork of “desperate politicians eyeing the 2027 elections” who view Sylva as a major political obstacle.

He also reaffirmed Sylva’s unwavering support for President Bola Tinubu, recalling how he led the Bayelsa APC to endorse Tinubu ahead of the 2023 elections.

SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Nigerian Army personnel raided Sylva’s Abuja residence in connection with an alleged coup plot under investigation by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA). Sources claimed a “special military team” carried out the operation after intelligence linked the former governor to secret meetings with detained military officers. Sylva’s brother, identified as Paga, was reportedly arrested during the raid.

The development follows reports that at least 16 senior military officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force are being detained by the DIA in connection with the alleged coup plot — a move some analysts describe as “highly political.”