The court adjourns the trial against 5 men accused of hiding the whereabouts of Timipre Sylva

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned to October 5 the trial of five men accused of concealing the whereabouts of former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva.

The case, whose trial was due to begin on Wednesday before Judge Peter Lifu, could not proceed because the court did not sit.

Following the development, the matter was postponed until after the court’s annual vacation.

Five defendants are charged

The Department of State Services (DSS) arraigned the five defendants – Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha and Ayebaifie Suobite – on July 1 on a two-count indictment.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were first brought to court.

The indictment accuses the defendants of having hidden the whereabouts of Timipre Sylva, who the prosecution describes as a fugitive.

According to the DSS, the alleged offenses were committed on or about April 28 in Abuja.

Sylva linked to a separate process

Timipre Sylva, former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and former Governor of Bayelsa State, is currently absconding in a separate criminal case before another Federal High Court in Abuja.

Although he is not named as a defendant in that case, prosecutors allege he has financial ties to six people on trial for an alleged plot to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu.

The six accused in the separate case include retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.

The federal government filed a 13-count indictment against the suspects, while Sylva remains listed in court documents as a fugitive.

Bail conditions

During the trial before Judge Lifu, the prosecution requested a trial date in order to present evidence against the five defendants.

The court subsequently granted bail to each accused in the amount of ₦5 million with two sureties.

Justice Lifu ruled that sureties must be residents of Abuja and provide valid customs clearance certificates as part of their bail conditions.

The accused were granted bail after their legal representatives, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Sunusi Musa, successfully presented their claims before the court.

Details of the charges

According to the first investigation, the accused were complicit after the fact, hiding Timipre Sylva’s whereabouts, despite knowing that he was wanted by the police.

The charge would be contrary to section 519 of the Penal Code Act.

In the second indictment, the defendants are accused of conspiring to commit a crime by allegedly concealing Sylva’s whereabouts.

Such an offense would be contrary to section 516 of the Criminal Code Act.

As Wednesday’s proceedings cannot go ahead, the case will now resume on October 5, when the court is expected to begin hearing evidence presented by the prosecution.