Sylva’s ex-chief of staff breaks silence on alleged arrest over coup against Tinubu

An ex- aide of former Bayelsa State governor and ex-Minister of State, Timipre Sylva has denied rumors of his arrest in the alleged coup plot to overthrown President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Earlier report had stated that the residence of the former governor was raided, however, close associates have confirmed that several parts of the house were destroyed.

An associate of the Sylva disclosed that “expensive doors were destroyed while a number of other household appliances were ransacked and scattered during the raid but nothing incriminating was found.”

The associate during a brief interaction with newmen, also dismissed reports linking the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Samuel Ogbuku, to Sylva in the alleged coup plot.

Ogbuku in a short message said, “I’m not aware of such. Just the way you are seeing it is the same way I’m seeing it too on social media.”

‘Sylva Not Involved In Any Coup’
Earlier on Wednesday, Sylva’s media aide, Julius Bokoru, issued a statement titled “Setting the record straight on recent false reports about Sylva” where he strongly denied his principal’s alleged involvement in the coup rumour.

“In the past 48 hours, I have been inundated with calls from members of the press, political associates, and concerned individuals regarding a circulating report alleging that His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, has ‘fled’ the country in connection with certain purported matters,” Bokoru said.

He confirmed the raid but insisted Sylva had no connection to any plot to topple the government.

“It is true that the residence of His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, was recently subjected to a raid by individuals believed to be operatives of the Defence Headquarters. During the said operation, considerable damage was inflicted upon the property. Despite sustained efforts, I have been unable to ascertain the reasons or authorisation for this raid,” he stated.

According to Bokoru, both Sylva and his wife, Alanyingi, were outside the country during the raid.

“As at my last communication with His Excellency, he was engaged in a routine medical check-up in the United Kingdom, after which he was scheduled to proceed to Malaysia to attend a professional conference,” he explained.

He stressed that Sylva remained a “thoroughbred democrat” who had always relied on due process and political structures for his achievements.

Bokoru further described the coup allegations as politically motivated.

“These rumours are nothing more than the handiwork of desperate and narcissistic politicians, already consumed by ambitions for 2027, who see Sylva as their last real obstacle, a man whose political presence and credibility continue to expose their dark, self-serving ambitions,” he said