The Department of State Services, DSS, has arraigned five Nigerians before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged concealment of information on the whereabouts of Timiprey Silva, a former Governor of Bayelsa State and the alleged mastermind of the coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu.
They are Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, FRIDAY Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha, and Ayebaifife Suobite, who were arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Peter Lifu.
A two-count charge filed against them alleged that on April 28, 2026, the accused persons became accessories after the fact of a felony by concealing the whereabouts of Timiprey Silva, said to be a fugitive from the law.
The alleged offence is said to be contrary to Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), 2004.
The DSS also accused them of conspiracy to commit a felony, to wit: concealing the whereabouts of Timiprey Silva, who is a fugitive from the law, contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code, LFN, 2004.
However, all the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
DSS counsel, Emmanuel Orubor, asked the judge to fix a date for the commencement of trial by calling witnesses to testify against the defendants.
However, Sanusi Musa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who appeared for Reuben Ayuba and Paganengigha Anagaha (the 1st and 4th accused persons), moved an application for the bail of his clients on various grounds.
Similar applications were also moved by Ibrahim Imadegbelo, who represented Musa Mohammed, the 2nd accused person; I. G. Kelubia, who appeared for FRIDAY Paul, the 3rd defendant; and E. C. Sogo, who argued for Ayebaifife Suobite, the 5th accused person.
The lawyers drew the attention of Justice Lifu to the fact that their clients had been in custody since October 25, 2025, and urged the court to admit them to bail on liberal terms.
In a brief ruling, Justice Lifu admitted them to bail in the sum of N5 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.
The sureties are to swear to affidavits of means, provide evidence of three years’ tax payments, show evidence of visible means of livelihood, and deposit their recent passport photographs.
Justice Lifu ordered that the identities of the sureties must be verified by the Registrar of the Court.
Pending the perfection of the bail conditions, the judge ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.
The judge fixed July 22 for the commencement of trial.
The charges against them read:
COUNT ONE: “That you, RUBEN AYUBA, MUSA MOHAMMED, FRIDAY PAUL, PAGANENGIGHA ANAGAHA, and AYEBAIFIFE SUOBITE, adult males, on or about the 28th day of April, 2026, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did become accessories after the fact of a felony by concealing the whereabouts of Timiprey Silva, who is a fugitive from 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 AYEBAIFIFE SUOBITE, adult 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 from the law, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code, LFN, 2004.”
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