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
