Fresh Twist As Court Adjourns Case Of Five Allegedly Hiding Sylva

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned until October 5 the trial of five men accused of concealing the whereabouts of former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The case, which was scheduled to commence before Justice Peter Lifu on Wednesday, was postponed after the court did not sit. Proceedings are now expected to resume after the court’s annual vacation.

The five defendants—Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha and Ayebaifie Suobite—were arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) on July 1.

They are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and allegedly acting as accessories after the commission of a felony by concealing Sylva’s whereabouts.

All five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, filed under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/299/2026.

Following their arraignment, prosecution counsel, E.G. Orubor, requested a trial date to enable the Federal Government present its evidence before the court.

Defendants Granted Bail

Justice Lifu granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of ₦5 million with two sureties in the same amount.

The court directed that the sureties must be residents of Abuja and provide valid tax clearance certificates.

The bail applications were moved by defence counsel, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Sunusi Musa.

Although the trial was initially fixed to begin on July 22, it has now been rescheduled for October 5.

According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly concealed Sylva’s whereabouts on or about April 28 in Abuja despite being aware that he was wanted by law enforcement authorities.

The prosecution contends that the alleged conduct amounted to acting as accessories after the commission of a felony, contrary to Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act.

In the second count, the defendants are accused of conspiring to conceal the former governor’s whereabouts, an offence said to be contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act.

The allegations remain before the court, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Sylva Named in Separate Criminal Case

Meanwhile, Sylva, who authorities have described as being at large, has also been mentioned in a separate criminal matter before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In that case, six individuals are standing trial over an alleged plot to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu.

The defendants include retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.

The Federal Government filed a 13-count charge against the six defendants under suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026.

Although Sylva is not listed as one of the defendants in the case, court documents reportedly identify him as being at large and allege that he maintained financial links with some of the accused persons.

Sylva, who previously served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has not been convicted of any offence, and the allegations in both matters remain subject to judicial determination.