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 Timipre Sylva.
The defendants appeared 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 accused allegedly became accessories after the fact by concealing Sylva’s whereabouts on 28 April 2026, contrary to Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The DSS alleged that Sylva, a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, is the mastermind of an attempted coup against President Bola Tinubu.
The agency also charged the defendants with conspiracy to commit a felony by concealing the whereabouts of a fugitive, contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code.
All five defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
Counsel to the DSS, Emmanuel Orubor, asked the court to fix a date for trial.
Defence lawyers, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria Sunusi Musa, who represented the first and fourth defendants, applied for bail, arguing that their clients had remained in custody since 25 October 2025.
Other defence counsel, Ibrahim Imadegbelo, I. G. Kelubia and E. C. Sogo, also urged the court to grant their clients bail on liberal terms.
In a brief ruling, Justice Lifu granted each defendant bail in the sum of ₦5 million with two sureties in like sum.
The court directed that each surety must swear to an affidavit of means, provide evidence of three years’ tax payment, show proof of a legitimate means of livelihood and submit a recent passport photograph.
Justice Lifu also ordered the court registrar to verify the identities of the sureties.
Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, the judge ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.
The case was adjourned until 22 July for the commencement of trial.