The Department of State Services, DSS, on Wednesday, arraigned five alleged associates of a former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, for concealing his whereabouts after he was implicated as a financier of an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu through a coup d’état.
Sylva, who also served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, was said to be at large after escaping from the country before the alleged coup plot was leaked.
He had since been declared wanted by the Federal Government, which has also moved to confiscate some of his identified properties.
Those arraigned before the court for failing to disclose his whereabouts are Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha and Ayebaifife Suobite.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge that was read to them before trial Justice Peter Lifu.
According to the charge, the defendants had, on April 28, become accessories to ex-governor Sylva’s alleged crime by concealing his hideout.
They were accused of committing an offence contrary to Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Following the defendants’ pleas of innocence, the prosecution counsel, Emmanuel Orubor, applied for their remand and a trial date to enable the calling of witnesses to testify against them.
However, counsel to the 1st and 4th defendants (Ayuba and Anagaha), Mr. Sunusi Musa, SAN, prayed the court to release them on bail pending the determination of the case.
Likewise, counsel to the 2nd defendant (Mohammed), Ibrahim Imadegbelo; counsel to the 3rd defendant (Paul), I. G. Kelubia; and E. C. Sogo, who represented the 5th defendant (Suobite), also begged the court to grant their clients bail.
The defence lawyers drew the attention of the court to the fact that the defendants had been in the custody of the security agency since October 25, 2025.
They prayed for their release on bail on very liberal terms.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu held that the charge contained bailable offences.
Consequently, he granted the defendants bail in the sum of N5 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.
The court held that the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means; produce evidence of three years’ tax payment; show evidence of visible means of livelihood; and deposit their recent passport photographs.
Justice Lifu held that the identities of the sureties must be verified by the Registrar of the court, adding that pending the perfection of the bail conditions, the defendants should be remanded in Kuje prison.
The case was adjourned until July 22 for the commencement of trial.
One of the charges read: “That you, Ruben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha and Ayebaifie Suobite, adults, males, on or about April 28, 2026, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did become accessories after the fact of felony by concealing the whereabouts of Timipre Sylva, who is a fugitive of the law, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act, LFN, 2004.”
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