The Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday arraigned five associates of former Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged concealment of information on his whereabouts.
The defendants, Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha, and Ayebaifie Suobite, were brought before Justice Peter Lifu on a two-count charge of allegedly concealing the location of Sylva, whom the prosecution described as a fugitive.
The DSS said that on April 28, 2026, the defendants became accessory after the fact by hiding Sylva’s whereabouts, a violation of Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
They were also charged with conspiring to commit a felony by concealing the alleged fugitive’s whereabouts, which violated Section 516 of the criminal code.
The five suspects pleaded not guilty to their allegations.
Emmanuel Orubor, counsel for the DSS, then sought the court to set a date for the start of the trial.
Counsel for the defendants filed separate bail applications.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria Sanusi Musa, who represented the first and fourth defendants, Reuben Ayuba and Paganengigha Anagaha, urged the court to allow his clients to bail.
Similar motions were filed by Ibrahim Imadegbelo for the second defendant, Musa Mohammed; I. G. Kelubia for the third defendant, Friday Paul; and E. C. Sogo for the fifth defendant, Ayebaifie Suobite.
The defense counsel informed the court that their clients had been in DSS custody since October 25, 2025, and begged Justice Lifu to give them bail on generous terms.
In a ruling, Justice Lifu admitted each defendant to bail in the sum of N5 million, with two sureties each in the same amount.
The judge ordered that each surety sign an affidavit of means, present evidence of three years of tax payment, exhibit verification of a reliable source of income, and submit recent passport photographs.
Justice Lifu further directed the court registrar to verify the identities of the sureties.
The accused were ordered to be held at the Kuje Correctional Center until their bail terms were met.
The judge adjourned the case until July 22 to begin the trial.
According to the indictment, the prosecution claimed that the defendants “became accessories after the fact of felony by concealing the whereabouts of Timipre Silva, who is a fugitive from the law.”
The second count alleges that they conspired to conduct the crime by concealing his location.
Chronicle NG reports that the Federal Government accused the former Bayelsa State governor and six others of sponsoring an alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu.
Following his declaration as wanted, the government filed charges against his younger brother, Moses Sylva, and numerous others in April, alleging that they withheld information about his whereabouts to thwart his arrest.
Meanwhile, Sylva has denied all wrongdoing.
Nigerian authorities say they discovered individuals involved in a big plan to undermine Tinubu’s administration. The conspiracy, purportedly intended for October 2025, has resulted in treason and terrorism indictments against several suspects.
On trial were Col. Mohammed Ma’aji, retired Maj. Gen. Mohammed Gana, retired Navy Capt. Victor Erasmus Ochegobia, and serving Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim.
Several more serving military officers have been identified and are facing internal court martial proceedings.
Intelligence revealed that the operation would have been brutal, with reported preparations to assassinate the president, vice president, and senior leadership of the National Assembly.
The plot was originally planned to take place on Nigeria’s Independence Day, October 1, 2025.
However, as security agents discovered the intrusion, the celebratory procession at Eagle Square was quickly canceled.
The defense headquarters confirmed the mutiny and the arrest of over 16 officers, while the Federal High Court is still hearing treason and terrorism charges.
