From Victor Osula, Abuja
The trial of five men accused of concealing the whereabouts of former Bayelsa State governor and former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, suffered a setback on Wednesday after the Federal High Court in Abuja adjourned proceedings until October 5 following the court’s inability to sit.
The matter, slated for the commencement of trial before Justice Peter Lifu, could not proceed due to the court’s absence as the judiciary prepares for its annual vacation.
The case has now been fixed for hearing immediately after the vacation.
The Department of State Services (DSS) had on July 1 arraigned the five defendants including Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha and Ayebaifie Suobite, on a two-count charge bordering on allegedly concealing the whereabouts of Sylva, whom the Federal Government describes as a fugitive.
At their arraignment, all five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges contained in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/299/2026.
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, E.G. Orubor, requested a trial date to enable the government present evidence against them.
Justice Lifu subsequently granted each defendant bail in the sum of N5 million, with two sureties each.
The sureties must be Abuja residents and are required to provide valid tax clearance certificates. The bail applications were moved by defence counsel, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Sunusi Musa.
The trial had initially been scheduled to commence on July 22 before the unexpected adjournment.
According to the charge, the defendants allegedly became accessories after the fact by concealing Sylva’s whereabouts on or about April 28 in Abuja, contrary to Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act.
They are also accused of conspiring to commit the alleged offence, contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act.
The latest case is closely connected to a separate high-profile prosecution involving allegations of a conspiracy to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
In that case, currently before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, the Federal Government is prosecuting six defendants over an alleged coup plot.
The accused are retired Major-General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Captain (NN) Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani, who are facing a 13-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026.
Although Sylva is not listed as one of the defendants in that case, prosecutors identify him in the court documents as being at large and allege that he maintained financial links with the six accused persons.
The former Bayelsa governor, who also served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has remained absent from the proceedings, while the Federal Government continues efforts to establish its allegations in court.
