The Department of State Services, DSS, has arraigned five associates of former Petroleum Minister, Chief Timipre Silva, over alleged concealment of his whereabouts.
The five — Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha and Ayebaifife Suobite — were arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Peter Lifu at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The DSS accused them of becoming accessories after the fact of felony on April 28, 2026 by hiding Silva, who has been declared wanted by the Federal Government.
Silva, a former Bayelsa governor, was named as an alleged financier and mastermind of an aborted coup plot against President Bola Tinubu. His identified properties have also been marked forfeiture.
The five face a 2-count charge of information concealment contrary to Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The DSS also accused them of conspiracy to commit a felony to wit: concealing the whereabouts of Timiprey Silva, who is a fugitive of the law contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code LFN, 2004.
All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to them.
Prosecution counsel Emmanuel Orubor asked the Judge to give a date for the DSS to open their trial by calling witnesses to testify against them.
But Sunusi Musa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN who stood for Reuben Ayuba and Paganengigha Anagaha (1st and 4th) accused persons moved application for bail of his clients on various grounds.
Similar applications were also canvassed by Ibrahim Imadegbelo who represented Musa Mohammed, the second accused person and I. G Kelubia who stood for Friday Paul, the third defendant and E. C Sogo who argued for Ayebaifife Suobite, the fifth accused person.
They drew the attention of Justice Lifu to the fact that their clients have been in the custody since October 25, 2025 and urged the Court to admit them to bail on liberal terms.
Justice Lifu admitted them to bail in the sum of N5M each and two sureties each in the like sum.
The sureties are to swear to affidavit of means, show evidence of three years tax payment, show evidence of visible means of livelihood and deposit their recent passport photographs.
Justice Lifu ordered that the claims of identities of the sureties must be verified by the Registrar of the Court.
The Judge ordered that the accused persons be reminded in Kuje prison pending the perfection of the bail requirements.
He fixed July 22,2026 for commencement of trial.
The charges against them read:
Count One: Concealing a Fugitive
“That you, Ruben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha, and Ayebaifife Suobite, all adult males, on or about April 28, 2026, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, acted as accessories after the fact by hiding the whereabouts of Timipre Silva, a fugitive from the law. This offence is contrary to Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act, LFN 2004.”
Count Two: Conspiracy
“That you, Ruben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha, and Ayebaifife Suobite, all adult males, on or about April 28, 2026, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to commit a felony by agreeing to conceal the whereabouts of Timipre Silva, a fugitive from the law. This offence is contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, LFN 2004.”
