metro

Army reportedly raids Sylva’s Abuja home over alleged coup plot

Published

1 month ago

October 28, 2025

Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva

Army reportedly raids Sylva’s Abuja home over alleged coup plot

In a startling twist, armed operatives of the Nigerian Army have reportedly stormed the Abuja residence of Chief Timipre Sylva, former Governor of Bayelsa State and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, in connection with an alleged coup plot under investigation by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

The raid, which took place in the early hours of Tuesday, was carried out by a specialized military team at Sylva’s Maitama home, sources familiar with the operation told Punch. The move is said to be based on intelligence linking the former minister to secret meetings with detained military officers accused of plotting to overthrow the government.

Security sources also confirmed that the operation extended to Sylva’s Bayelsa residence, where his brother, identified as Paga, was arrested.

“The Nigerian Army special team ransacked the home of Timipre Sylva, who is believed to have fled Nigeria. He is the South-South former governor frequently mentioned in the case. His brother, Paga, was picked up during the raid,” a top source disclosed.

Although the military is yet to issue an official statement, insiders say the raid was triggered by “credible intelligence” implicating certain political figures in the alleged conspiracy.

READ ALSO:

This development comes amid rising tension within the Armed Forces, following reports that at least 16 senior officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force have been detained by the DIA. The officers, held incommunicado for over three weeks in an undisclosed Abuja facility, were initially feared kidnapped by their families due to the lack of official communication.

“It’s been 18 days since those 16 officers were detained in an undisclosed location. At first, we thought our brother was kidnapped before finding out what transpired from his friend who works in the NSA office,” a family member said.

Security experts have raised eyebrows over the DIA’s involvement, arguing that such probes are typically handled by the respective military branches. Some analysts believe the situation may be politically charged.

“If the military were truly conducting a disciplinary operation, over 10,000 cases could emerge. Why only 16 officers, and why hand them to the DIA?” a retired senior officer queried. “This smells of politics. There’s clearly more going on behind the scenes.”

Sylva, a known ally of former President Muhammadu Buhari, served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources from 2019 to 2023. He was the APC’s candidate in the November 2023 Bayelsa governorship election, which he lost to incumbent Governor Douye Diri of the PDP.

As of press time, the Nigerian Army and Defence Headquarters had yet to comment on the raid or Sylva’s whereabouts.

Army reportedly raids Sylva’s Abuja home over alleged coup plot

Up Next

Tinubu seeks senate nod for new Service Chiefs amid military shake-up

Don't Miss

Terrorists threaten to bomb National Assembly, says Reps panel

metro

Court Sends Chris Ngige to Kuje Prison on EFCC’s N2.2bn Fraud Charges

Published

2 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Trends Admin

former Anambra State Governor, Dr. Chris Ngige

Court Sends Chris Ngige to Kuje Prison on EFCC’s N2.2bn Fraud Charges

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Gwarinpa has ordered the remand of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, in Kuje prison pending the hearing of his bail application.

Justice Maryam Hassan issued the order on Friday after Ngige pleaded not guilty to an eight-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

READ ALSO:

The former minister, who served from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, is being prosecuted for his alleged role in a N2.2 billion contract fraud. The charges include abuse of office and accusations that he received kickbacks from companies that secured contracts from the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

The court ruled that Ngige should remain in custody until Monday, when his bail application will be heard.

Court Sends Chris Ngige to Kuje Prison on EFCC’s N2.2bn Fraud Charges

metro

Supreme Court Reinstates Death Sentence for Maryam Sanda Despite Tinubu’s Pardon

Published

2 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Trends Admin

Maryam Sanda

Supreme Court Reinstates Death Sentence for Maryam Sanda Despite Tinubu’s Pardon

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has reaffirmed the death sentence imposed on Maryam Sanda, daughter-in-law of a former PDP chairman, for the culpable homicide of her husband, Bilyamin Bello, in 2017.

Sanda was convicted by an Abuja High Court on January 27, 2020, and sentenced to death by hanging after being found guilty of stabbing her husband to death at their Abuja residence. She had spent six years and eight months in Suleja prison before President Bola Tinubu reduced her punishment to 12 years under the recent presidential pardon initiative.

READ ALSO:

According to the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the clemency was granted on “compassionate grounds” and in the “best interest of the children,” noting Sanda’s good conduct, reformed behaviour, and remorse during incarceration.

However, in a split decision of four to one, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court on Friday overturned the executive intervention and reaffirmed the original death sentence. Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Moore Adumein ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The apex court upheld the earlier decisions of both the trial court and the Court of Appeal, describing them as sound and unassailable. It further held that President Tinubu lacked the constitutional authority to issue a pardon in a homicide case that was still under judicial review.

Sanda’s appeal was dismissed for lacking merit, bringing a definitive close to one of Nigeria’s most widely followed murder conviction cases.

Supreme Court Reinstates Death Sentence for Maryam Sanda Despite Tinubu’s Pardon

metro

Mother, 10-Month-Old Baby Murdered in Katsina Over Alleged Paternity Dispute

Published

6 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Trends Admin

Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu

Mother, 10-Month-Old Baby Murdered in Katsina Over Alleged Paternity Dispute

A woman and her 10-month-old baby have been found murdered in Sheme village, Faskari Local Government Area, Katsina State, in what authorities believe was linked to a paternity dispute.

The Katsina State Police Command confirmed that detectives are investigating the incident. In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, said 35-year-old Sahabi Rabi’u has been arrested in connection with the killings, while a second suspect remains at large.

READ ALSO:

Aliyu explained: “During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and admitted conspiring with a friend, now at large, to lure the victims to the outskirts of Sheme village, where they were killed. The bodies were burnt and thrown into a nearby well.”

Investigations revealed that the murder stemmed from a paternity disagreement, which escalated into a brutal killing. The bodies have been recovered, and the suspect is currently in police custody. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing accomplice.

Katsina State Commissioner of Police, Bello Shehu, condemned the killings as “barbaric and inhumane,” assuring that justice will be served. He appealed to members of the public to provide information that could assist in capturing the second suspect, with guarantees of confidentiality.