The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five men accused of concealing the whereabouts of former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, who is wanted over allegations of financing a plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The defendants — Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha, and Ayebaifife Suobite — appeared before Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on a two-count charge bordering on allegedly concealing the whereabouts of the former governor.
According to the prosecution, the suspects became accessories after the fact by allegedly helping to hide Sylva after he was implicated in an alleged coup plot. Authorities claim Sylva fled Nigeria before details of the alleged plot became public and has since been declared wanted by the Federal Government, which has also initiated moves to confiscate some of his identified properties.
The five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their arraignment, prosecution counsel Emmanuel Orubor urged the court to remand the defendants and fix a date for trial. However, defence lawyers applied for their release on bail, arguing that they had remained in DSS custody since October 25, 2025.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu held that the offences were bailable and granted each defendant bail in the sum of ₦5 million with two sureties in like sum.
The court directed that each surety must provide an affidavit of means, evidence of three years’ tax payments, proof of a legitimate source of livelihood, and recent passport photographs. The Registrar was also ordered to verify the identities of the sureties.
Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, the defendants were remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre.
The matter was adjourned until July 22 for the commencement of trial.
One of the charges alleges that the defendants, on or about April 28, 2026, in Abuja, knowingly concealed the whereabouts of Timipre Sylva, described by the prosecution as “a fugitive of the law,” contrary to Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
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