The trial of five men accused of concealing the whereabouts of former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, failed to commence on Wednesday after the Federal High Court in Abuja did not sit due to the absence of the trial judge, Justice Peter Lifu.
The case, which was fixed for commencement of trial before Justice Peter Lifu, could not go on because the court was not sitting. It was subsequently adjourned until October 5, 2026, after the court’s annual vacation.
The defendants — Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha and Ayebaifie Suobite — were arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) on July 1 on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and allegedly concealing the whereabouts of Sylva, who the Federal Government describes as a fugitive.
The five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were arraigned before Justice Lifu.
Following their plea, the prosecution, led by E.G. Orubor, requested a trial date to present evidence against the accused persons.
Justice Lifu granted each defendant bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties who must reside in Abuja and provide valid tax clearance certificates. The bail applications were moved by the defence team, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Sunusi Musa.
Sylva, who is currently at large, is also linked to a separate criminal case before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, where six suspects are standing trial over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government.
The former Bayelsa governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under former President Muhammadu Buhari is not listed as a defendant in that 13-count charge but is identified in court documents as being at large over his alleged financial links to the accused coup plotters.
The six defendants in the separate case are retired Major-General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.
In the case before Justice Lifu, prosecutors alleged that on or about April 28, 2026, the five defendants acted as accessories after the fact by concealing Sylva’s whereabouts despite knowing he was wanted by law enforcement authorities.
The prosecution further accused them of conspiring to commit the alleged offence, contrary to Sections 519 and 516 of the Criminal Code Act.
