The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five associates of former Minister of Petroleum, Timipre Silva, at the Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged concealment of information about the whereabouts of their principal, who is implicated as the financier of an aborted coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu.

Silva, a former governor of Bayelsa State, was declared wanted by the Federal Government, and his identified properties were marked for forfeiture following his indictment.

The five associates – Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha and Ayebaifife Suobite – were arraigned yesterday before Justice Peter Lifu.

The two counts of slamming against them indicated that the accused persons, on April 28, 2026, became accessories after the fact to a felony by concealing the whereabouts of 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 of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

DSS also accused them of conspiracy to commit a felony to wit: concealing the whereabouts of Silva, who is a fugitive of the law, contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code LFN, 2004.

However, all the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

DSS lawyer, Emmanuel Orubor, asked the judge to give a date for the DSS to open their trial by calling witnesses to testify against them.

Sunusi Musa (SAN), who stood for Ayuba and Anagaha (1st and 4th accused persons), moved an application for bail of his clients on various grounds.

Similar applications were also canvassed by counsel who represented other defendants.

The lawyers drew Lifu’s attention 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, Lifu admitted them to bail in the sum of N5 million each, with two sureties in like sum.

The sureties are to swear to an affidavit of means, show evidence of three years’ tax payment, show evidence of visible means of livelihood and deposit their recent passport photographs.

Lifu ordered that the sureties’ identities 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 prison and fixed July 22 for the commencement of the trial.