The Department of the State Service, DSS, has arraigned five associates of former Minister of Petroleum, Chief Timipre Silva at the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged information concealment on the whereabout of their principal who is alleged financier of aborted coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu. Famous Quotes
Daily Independent reported that the federal government has proclaimed Silva sought and listed his specified properties for confiscation after his indictment as the sponsor and mastermind of the alleged coup plan. Silva is a former Governor of Bayelsa State.
The five associates are Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha and Ayebaifife Suobite who were charged before Justice Peter Lifu yesterday.
The 2-count accusation slapped against them read that the accused persons on April 28, 2026 became accessories after the fact of felony by concealing the location of Timiprey Silva, said to be a fugitive of the law.
The alleged offence is said to constitute an offence under Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. Population
The DSS further charged them of conspiracy to commit a felony to wit: concealing the location of Timiprey Silva, who is a fugitive of the law pursuant to section 516 of the criminal code LFN, 2004.
But all the accused persons pleaded not guilty when the allegations were read to them.
The DSS lawyer, Emmanuel Orubor, urged the Judge to establish a date for the DSS to commence their trial by inviting witnesses to testify against them.
But Sunusi Musa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, who appeared for Reuben Ayuba and
Paganengigha Anagaha (1st and 4th accused people) filed an application for bail of his clients on different grounds.
The 2nd accused person, Musa Mohammed, was represented by Ibrahim Imadegbelo, while Friday Paul, 3rd defendant, had I. G Kelubia as his counsel, and E. C Sogo examined similar applications.
5th accused person, Ayebaifife Suobite.
The lawyers brought Justice Lifu’s attention to the fact that their clients have been in the custody since October 25, 2025 and sought the Court to allow them to bail on liberal terms.
Justice Lifu, in a brief order, granted them bail in the sum of N5million each and two sureties each in the like sum.
Sureties shall swear to affidavit of means, evidence of three years tax payment, evidence of visible means of livelihood and deposit recent passport photographs.
Justice Lifu ordered that the identity of the sureties be confirmed by the Registrar of the Court.
The judge ordered that the accused suspects should be held in Kuje jail till the perfection of their bail terms.
The Judge set July 22 as the date on which the trial would begin.
The charges filed against them were;
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 ofthis 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
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