DSS Arraigns Five For Hiding Timipre Sylva’s Whereabouts

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ABUJA – The Department of the State Services (DSS), on Wednesday, ar­raigned five associates of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, at the Feder­al High Court in Abuja on alleged information concealment on the whereabouts of their principal al­legedly implicated as financier of an aborted coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu.

Embattled Sylva, 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 2-count charge slammed against them indicated that the accused persons on April 28, 2026, became accessories after the fact of felony by concealing the where­abouts 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 whereabouts 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 its trial by calling witnesses to testify against them.

However, Sunusi Musa, a Se­nior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who stood in 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 in 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 the 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 prison.

The judge fixed July 22, 2026, for commencement of trial.

The charges against them read: Charge count one: “That you, Ruben Ayuba, Musa Moham­med, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha, and Ayebaifie Suobite, adults, males, on or about the 28th day of April, 2026, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honorable 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.

Count two: “That you, Ruben Ayuba, Musa. Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha, and Ayebaifie Suobite, adults, males, on or about the 28th day of April, 2026, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, did con­spire to commit a felony to wit: concealing the whereabouts of Timipre Sylva, who is a fugitive of the law and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code LFN, 2004.