Alleged coup: Trial of 5 men accused of hiding Sylva’s location stalled

The trial of five men accused of concealing the whereabouts of former Bayelsa State governor Timipre Sylva could not proceed as scheduled on Wednesday because the judge was not present.

The trial, which was due to begin before Judge Peter Lifu, has now been postponed until the 5th^th of October 2026.

The long postponement, our correspondent reports, was due to the judges’ annual holidays scheduled for the 27th^th of July to the 11th^th of September.

When the trial resumes, the court is expected to begin hearing on the evidence presented by the prosecution.

The five defendants charged and arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) are Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha and Ayebaifie Suobite.

The indictment accuses the defendants of concealing the whereabouts of Timipre Sylva, who the prosecution says remains at large due to his alleged involvement in a coup allegedly plotted to dethrone the government of President Bola Tinubu.

The DSS said the alleged offenses were committed on April 28 in Abuja.

During their court hearing on July 1 on two counts, they all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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

When they were arraigned before Judge Lifu, the prosecution requested a trial date in order to present evidence against the five defendants.

After arguments were made through an application which was presented before the court by their lawyer, Sunusi Musa, SAN, the court subsequently granted each defendant bail in the amount of N5 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.

Among other charges, the defendants allegedly became accomplices after concealing Timipre Sylva’s whereabouts despite knowing he was wanted by law enforcement.