An aide to former Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has rejected media reports linking the former minister to an alleged plot to overthrow the government.
Chief Julius Bokoru, who serves as an aide to Mr Sylva, described the reports as questionable and called for greater scrutiny of the sources and methods used to publish the claims.
Mr Bokoru said the allegations should not be treated as established facts without credible evidence, urging journalists and members of the public to examine the origin and reliability of the information.
The controversy comes amid heightened public attention to reports of an alleged coup plot, with authorities expected to investigate any credible intelligence relating to threats against Nigeria’s constitutional order.
Mr Bokoru questioned the basis for associating Mr Sylva with the alleged plot and said the former minister’s name should not be linked to such serious allegations without verifiable evidence.
He also urged media organisations to uphold professional standards by independently verifying sensitive claims before publication, particularly where allegations could damage an individual’s reputation.
The aide’s comments come as calls grow for clarity over the claims and for credible evidence to be made public where appropriate.
No evidence establishing Mr Sylva’s involvement in any coup plot has been presented in the statement issued by his aide.
The development is likely to fuel further debate over the responsibility of the media and public officials when reporting or responding to allegations involving national security
