The Department of the State Service (DSS) has arraigned five associates of former Minister of Petroleum, Chief Timipre Silva at the Federal High Court in Abuja on alleged information concealment on the whereabout of their principal allegedly implicated as financier of aborted coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu.
Silva, a former Governor of Bayelsa State has been declared wanted by the federal government and his identified properties marked for forfeiture following indictment of being the sponsor and mastermind of the alleged coup plot.
The five associates are Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha and Ayebaifife Suobite who were arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Peter Lifu.
A two-count charge filed against them indicated that the accused persons on April 28, 2026 became accessories after the fact of felony by concealing the whereabout of Timipre Sylva, said to be a fugitive of the law.
The alleged offence is said to be contrary to Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
DSS also accused them of conspiracy to commit a felony to wit: concealing the whereabout of Timipre Sylva, who is a fugitive of the law contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code LFN, 2004.
However, all the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to them.
DSS lawyer, Emmanuel Orubor asked the Judge to give a date for the DSS to open their trial by calling witnesses to testify against them.
However, Sunusi Musa, SAN who stood for Reuben Ayuba and
Paganengigha Anagaha (1st and 4th) accused persons moved application for bail of his clients on various grounds.
Similar applications were also canvassed by Ibrahim Imadegbelo who represented Musa Mohammed, the 2nd accused person and I. G Kelubia who stood for Friday Paul, the 3rd defendant and E. C Sogo who argued for
Ayebaifife Suobite, the 5th accused person.
The lawyers drew the attention of Justice Lifu to the fact that their clients have been in the custody since October 25, 2025 and urged the Court to admit them to bail on liberal terms.
In a brief ruling, Justice Lifu admitted them to bail in the sum of N5 million each and two sureties each in like sum.
The sureties are to swear to affidavit of means, show evidence of three years tax payment, show evidence of visible means of livelihood and deposit their recent passport photographs.
Justice Lifu ordered that the claims of identities of the sureties must be verified by the Registrar of the Court.
Pending the perfection of the bail conditions, the Judge ordered that the accused persons be reminded in Kuje Correctional Center in Abuja and fixed July 22 for commencement of trial.
END
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