A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the trial of five men alleged to be aides of former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, until October 5.
The case, which was scheduled to begin on Wednesday, could not proceed because the presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, is away on an official assignment.
The defendants Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha, and Ayebaifie Suobite were arraigned on July 1 over a two-count charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS). The case is marked FHC/ABJ/CR/299/2026.
They are accused, among other things, of failing to disclose Sylva’s whereabouts, allegations they denied by pleading not guilty.
Also on July 1, Justice Lifu granted bail to each of them at N5 million, with two sureties who must be residents of Abuja and provide their tax clearance certificates.
The defendants are, in count one, alleged to have, on or about April 28 in Abuja, become “accessories after the fact of felony by concealing the whereabouts of Timiprey Sylva, who is a fugitive of the law.”
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act.
In count two, they are alleged to have conspired to commit a felony by concealing the whereabouts of Sylva, who is a fugitive of the law.
The offence is contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act LFN, 2004.
The five defendants, arrested last year, had filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit demanding that they be either released or arraigned in court.
In the suit, they described themselves as domestic workers and aides to Sylva.
Anagaha’s wife, Preye, stated, in a supporting affidavit, that the DSS operatives arrested her husband and others on 25 October 2025 at Sylva’s house in Maitama, Abuja.
Mrs Anagaha, who described her husband as “a domestic staff member” to Sylva, further stated that “When Chief Timipre Sylva was not found at the residence, the operatives arrested three aides and domestic workers, including my husband.”
Sylva is featured in the charge filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) against six men currently being prosecuted before a Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged coup plot against the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
Sylva is not named as a defendant in the 13-count charge (FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026), but is described in some counts as “still at large.”
The six are: Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (rtd), Captain (NN) Erasmus Ochegobia Victor (rtd), Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.
Hearing in the trial of the six alleged coup plotters continues on September 30 before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik (also of the Federal High Court, Abuja).
