By Ayodele Oluwafemi

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five suspects for allegedly concealing the whereabouts of Timipre Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa.

The five suspects were on Wednesday arraigned at the federal high court in Abuja on a two-count charge.

The suspects are Reuben Ayuba,usa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha and Ayebaifie Suobite.

The suspects were alleged to have, on or about April 28 in Abuja, became “accessories after the fact of felony by concealing the whereabouts of Timipre Sylva, who is a fugitive of the law”.

According to NAN, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

After the defendants took their plea, E.G. Orubor, counsel to the DSS, sought a trial date to enable the prosecution establish their case against the defendants.

However, the defendants’ lawyers moved their bail applications.

Peter Lifu, the presiding judge, granted the bail applications and admitted them to N5 million in bail each, with two sureties each, who must be residents of Abuja and provide their tax clearance certificates.

BACKGROUND

In April, the federal government arraigned six suspects over allegations of plotting a coup to oust President Bola Tinubu.

The suspects were arraigned on a 13-count charge at the federal high court in Abuja.

The defendants in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026 include Muhammed Ibrahim Gana, a retired major general; Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, a retired navy captain; Ahmed Ibrahim, a serving police inspector; Zekeri Umoru; Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.

They were arraigned before Joyce Abdulmalik, the trial judge.

The defendants pleaded not guilty.

Although Sylva, a former minister, was mentioned in the charge, he was not listed as a defendant.

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The ex-minister was accused of conspiring with the other six defendants to overthrow Tinubu.

Source: TheCable