Two individuals have been identified as key backers of a failed coup attempt targeting Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, according to Defence Headquarters findings. Investigators claim the alleged plotters received ₦835 million (about $1.6 million) from private companies.
Former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva, who previously served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under former President Muhammadu Buhari, allegedly contributed ₦785 million (about $1.5 million) via Purple Waves Limited, an Abuja-based construction company. The company secretary, John Ebokpo, is currently detained by security agencies. Mr Sylva remains at large and denies any involvement.
Company filings with the Corporate Affairs Commission do not list Mr Sylva as a shareholder or director. The firm has reportedly been closed for months, coinciding with security arrests linked to the coup investigation.
The second alleged financier, Moses Zakwa, reportedly contributed ₦50 million (about $96,000) through Clay Ring Services Limited, a Lagos-based property renovation and management firm. Details about Mr Zakwa remain scarce, though a person of the same name previously led a 2014 protest for the release of abducted schoolgirls in Borno State.
Defence Headquarters reports indicate that several military officers and civilians are implicated in planning, funding, and supporting the coup, with 40 suspects detained, including senior officers and police personnel. Retired Major General Adamu remains at large alongside Mr Sylva. Intelligence sources indicate one fugitive is in South America.
The alleged plot initially aimed to disrupt the handover from former President Muhammadu Buhari to President Tinubu on 29 May 2023 but was delayed due to lack of funds and logistics. It resumed in 2025 after Mr Sylva’s alleged financial contributions. Investigators report recovered weapons, ammunition, and vehicles intended for operational use. Authorities are awaiting presidential approval to convene a court-martial for the military personnel involved.