Coup: DSS Arraigns Five Sylva Associates Over Alleged Concealment Of Ex-Gov’s Wherabout

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday arraigned five associates of former Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Naija News reports that the defendants were arraigned before Justice Peter Lifu on two counts of alleged concealment of Sylva’s whereabouts.

The defendants are Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha and Ayebaifie Suobite. They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The DSS alleged that the defendants, on April 28, 2026, became accessories after the fact by concealing Sylva’s whereabouts, whom the prosecution described as a fugitive.

Counsel for the DSS, Emmanuel Orubor, urged the court to fix a date for trial. However, defence lawyers applied for bail, saying their clients had been in DSS custody since October 25, 2025.

Justice Lifu granted each defendant bail in the sum of ₦5m with two sureties each in like sum.

The judge ordered the sureties to provide evidence of three years’ tax payment, affidavit of means, proof of livelihood and recent passport photographs.

Pending the perfection of their bail conditions, the defendants were remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

The case was adjourned until July 22 for trial.

According to the charge, the defendants allegedly “became accessories after the fact of a felony by concealing the whereabouts of Timipre Silva, who is a fugitive from the law.”

Sylva has denied any wrongdoing.