ABUJA — The Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday arraigned five alleged associates of former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, over claims that they concealed his whereabouts after he was implicated in an ongoing investigation into an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The five defendants — Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha and Ayebaifife Suobite — appeared before Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, where they pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge.
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly became accessories to the offence by knowingly concealing Sylva’s whereabouts on or about April 28, despite being aware that he was wanted by security authorities.
Sylva, a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under the administration of late former President Muhammadu Buhari, is alleged by the Federal Government to have financed a planned coup d’état aimed at unlawfully removing the Tinubu-led administration. Authorities claim he fled the country before details of the alleged plot became public and has since been declared wanted. The Federal Government has also reportedly initiated moves to confiscate some of his identified assets as part of the ongoing investigation.
While the allegations are yet to be tested in court, security agencies have maintained that investigations into the suspected coup plot are continuing and that all those found to have played any role will face prosecution in accordance with the law.
The charge before the court stated that the defendants committed an offence contrary to Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Following the defendants’ not guilty plea, prosecuting counsel Emmanuel Orubor urged the court to remand them in custody and fix a date for trial to enable the prosecution to call witnesses.
Justice Lifu subsequently adjourned the matter for further proceedings while considering the prosecution’s application.
