Coup: DSS Arraigns 5 Sylva’s Associates For Allegedly Concealing Information

The Department of State Service, DSS, has arraigned five associates of former Minister of Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, over alleged information concealment.

They were said to have concealed the whereabouts of Sylva, allegedly implicated as the financier of an aborted coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu.

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, Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha, and Ayebaifife Suobite, were arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Peter Lifu.

A 2-count charge slammed against them indicated that the accused persons, on 28 April 2026, became accessories after the fact of a felony by concealing the whereabouts of Timiprey 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 of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

DSS also accused them of conspiracy to commit a felony, to wit: concealing the. whereabouts of Timiprey Silva, 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, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, who stood for Reuben Ayuba and Paganengigha Anagaha (1st and 4th), moved an 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 Justice Lifu’s attention to the fact that their clients have been in custody since 25 October 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 N5M each and two sureties each in the like sum.

The sureties are to swear to an affidavit of means, show evidence of three years’ tax payments, show evidence of a visible means of livelihood, and deposit recent passport photographs.

Justice Lifu ordered that the Registrar of the Court verify the identities of the sureties.

Pending the perfection of the bail conditions, the Judge ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Kuje prison.

The Judge fixed 22 July for the commencement of the 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 Honourable Court, did become accessories after the fact of felony by concealing the whereabouts of Timiprey Silva, 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 Honourable Court, did conspire to commit a felony, to wit: concealing the whereabouts of Timiprey Silva, who is a fugitive of the law and thereby’ committed an offence contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code LFN, 2004.