DSS Arraigns Five Over Alleged Concealment Of Ex-Bayelsa Governor Timipre Sylva,

…Court Grants N5m Bail Each

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday arraigned five men before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations that they concealed the whereabouts of former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, who is currently declared at large in an alleged coup-related case.

The defendants — Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha and Ayebaifie Suobite — were docked before Justice Peter Lifu on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and failure to disclose the whereabouts of a fugitive.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their arraignment, DSS counsel, E.G. Orubor, urged the court to fix a date for trial to enable the prosecution to prove its case.

Justice Lifu subsequently granted each defendant bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties each. The judge ordered that the sureties must be residents of Abuja and provide valid tax clearance certificates.

The bail applications were moved by defence lawyers, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Sunusi Musa.

The case was adjourned until July 22 for the commencement of trial.

According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/299/2026, the defendants allegedly became “accessories after the fact of felony” by concealing the whereabouts of Sylva on or about April 28 in Abuja.

The prosecution said the alleged offence is contrary to Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), 2004.

In the second count, the DSS accused the five men of conspiring to conceal the whereabouts of Sylva, whom it described as a fugitive, contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act.

Sylva is separately linked to an ongoing trial before another Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

In that case, six suspects are standing trial over an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The six defendants are retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Captain (NN) Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.

Although Sylva is not listed as a defendant in the 13-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026, the Federal Government identified him in the charge as being at large and alleged that he had financial links with the six accused persons.