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.
The defendants were charged with concealing information on the whereabouts of Silva, who has been declared wanted by the federal government over an alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu.
Silva, a former Bayelsa State governor, has also had identified properties marked forfeiture following his indictment as the alleged sponsor and mastermind of the plot.
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.
The DSS alleged that on April 28, 2026, the defendants became accessories after the fact by concealing Silva’s whereabouts, contrary to Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. They were also accused of conspiring to commit the offence, contrary to Section 516 of the Act.
All five pleaded not guilty. Justice Lifu granted each of them bail in the sum of ₦5 million with two sureties each in like sum.
DSS counsel, Emmanuel Orubor, asked the court to fix a date for the prosecution to open its case by calling witnesses.
Defence lawyers — Sunusi Musa, SAN, for Ayuba and Anagaha; Ibrahim Imadegbelo for Mohammed; I.G. Kelubia for Paul; and E.C. Sogo for Suobite — said their clients had been in custody since October 25, 2025, and filed separate bail applications.
In granting bail, Justice Lifu ruled that the sureties must depose to affidavits of means, provide evidence of three years’ tax payments, show verifiable means of livelihood, and submit recent passport photographs. The court ordered the Registrar to verify the sureties’ identities before the bail is perfected.
Pending the perfection of bail conditions, the defendants were remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre. The trial was fixed to begin on July 22.
DSS Arraigns 5 Over Alleged Concealment of Ex-Minister Timipre Silva
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