The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed the trial of five men accused of failing to disclose the whereabouts of former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, until October 5 after the court was unable to sit on Wednesday.
The case, which was scheduled for the commencement of trial before Justice Peter Lifu, could not proceed due to the court’s absence, leading to a fresh date after the annual court vacation.
The adjournment affects the trial of Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha and Ayebaifie Suobite, who were arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) on July 1.
The five defendants pleaded not guilty after being charged with two offences relating to the alleged concealment of Sylva, who remains at large.
The former Bayelsa governor is also connected to another ongoing criminal case before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In that separate matter, Sylva and six other individuals are accused of involvement in an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Although Sylva is not listed as one of the defendants in the case, prosecutors identified him as being at large and alleged that he maintained financial links with the six suspects currently standing trial.
Those facing prosecution in the related 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 charge against the six defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026.
Sylva, who previously served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, is referenced in the charge but has not been formally listed as a defendant.
Meanwhile, during the July 1 proceedings before Justice Lifu, the prosecution, led by E.G. Orubor, requested that the matter be fixed for trial to enable the government present evidence against the five accused persons.
Following arguments from defence lawyers, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria Sunusi Musa, who sought bail for the defendants, the court granted each of them bail in the sum of ₦5 million.
Justice Lifu also directed that each defendant must provide two sureties who are residents of Abuja and possess valid tax clearance certificates.
After granting bail, the judge initially fixed July 22 for the commencement of trial before the matter was subsequently adjourned to October 5 because the court did not sit.
According to the charge, the defendants allegedly became “accessories after the fact of felony by concealing the whereabouts of Timiprey Sylva, who is a fugitive of the law.”
Prosecutors alleged that the offence was committed on or about April 28 in Abuja and is punishable under Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
In the second count, the Federal Government accused the five defendants of conspiring to commit a felony by concealing the whereabouts of the former governor.
The prosecution said the alleged conspiracy contravenes Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
