The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five Nigerians before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged concealment of the whereabouts of former Bayelsa State Governor and former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.
Sylva is alleged by the DSS to be the mastermind of an attempted coup against President Bola Tinubu.
The defendants were arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Peter Lifu on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and allegedly concealing the whereabouts of a fugitive.
According to the charge, the defendants, on April 28, 2026, allegedly became accessories after the fact to a felony by concealing the whereabouts of Sylva, who the prosecution described as a fugitive from the law. The alleged offence is said to contravene Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The DSS also accused them of conspiring to commit a felony by concealing Sylva’s whereabouts, an offence alleged to be contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act.
The five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their plea, counsel to the DSS, Emmanuel Orubor, urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial to enable the prosecution to present its witnesses.
Counsel to the defendants, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria Sunusi Musa, who represented the first and fourth defendants, as well as Ibrahim Imadegbelo, I.G. Kelubia and E.C. Sogo, who appeared for the other defendants, applied for bail.
The defence lawyers informed the court that their clients had been in DSS custody since October 25, 2025, and urged Justice Lifu to grant them bail on liberal terms.
In a brief ruling, Justice Lifu admitted each of the defendants to bail in the sum of ₦5 million with two sureties each in like sum.
The court directed that each surety must depose to an affidavit of means, provide evidence of tax payment for the preceding three years, present proof of a legitimate means of livelihood and submit recent passport photographs. The judge also ordered the court registrar to verify the identities of the sureties.
Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, Justice Lifu ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The case was adjourned until July 22 for the commencement of trial.
