The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five associates of former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Silva, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of concealing information about his whereabouts.
The DSS alleged that Silva, who has been declared wanted by the Federal Government over claims that he financed an alleged aborted coup plot against President Bola Tinubu, remains a fugitive, while some of his identified properties have reportedly been marked for forfeiture.
The five defendants — Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha and Ayebaifife Suobite — were arraigned before Justice Peter Lifu on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and allegedly concealing the whereabouts of a fugitive.
According to the charge, the accused persons allegedly became accessories after the fact of a felony on April 28, 2026, by concealing the whereabouts of Silva, an offence said to be contrary to Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The second count accused them of conspiring to commit a felony by concealing the whereabouts of Silva, contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act.
All five defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
Following the arraignment, DSS counsel, Emmanuel Orubor, urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial and the presentation of witnesses.
Counsel to the defendants separately moved applications seeking bail, informing the court that their clients had remained in custody since October 25, 2025, and urging the court to admit them to bail on liberal terms.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu granted each defendant bail in the sum of N5 million, with two sureties in like sum.
The court directed that each surety must swear to an affidavit of means, provide evidence of three years’ tax payments, show proof of a verifiable means of livelihood and submit recent passport photographs. The identities of the sureties are also to be verified by the court registrar.
Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, the judge ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
Justice Lifu subsequently adjourned the matter until July 22 for the commencement of trial.
According to the charge, the defendants are accused of becoming accessories after the fact by allegedly concealing Silva’s whereabouts and conspiring to commit the alleged offence, contrary to Sections 519 and 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The former Bayelsa State governor left the country amid widening investigations into an alleged coup plot that has led to military raids, multiple arrests and the ongoing trial of suspects.
It was believed that Sylva shelved plans to return to Nigeria after reportedly learning of the raid on his Abuja residence and the arrest of some of his associates.
However, fleeing Silva has consistently denied wrongdoing in relation to the allegations made against him.
