Federal High Court grants defendants N5 million bail each as trial over alleged conspiracy and concealment of ex-minister begins July 22.
The Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday arraigned five Nigerians before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged concealment of the whereabouts of former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.
The defendants were brought before Justice Peter Lifu on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and allegedly concealing the whereabouts of Sylva, whom the DSS described in court documents as a fugitive.
According to the charge, the accused persons allegedly became accessories after the fact of a felony on April 28, 2026, by concealing Sylva’s whereabouts. The offences are said to contravene Sections 516 and 519 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
All five defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
Following their plea, DSS counsel Emmanuel Orubor urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial.
Counsel to the defendants, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria Sunusi Musa, as well as Ibrahim Imadegbelo, I.G. Kelubia and E.C. Sogo, applied for bail, informing the court that their clients had remained in custody since October 25, 2025.
Justice Lifu granted each defendant bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum. The court directed that each surety must provide an affidavit of means, evidence of three years’ tax payment, proof of visible means of livelihood, and recent passport photographs, while the court registrar is to verify their identities.
Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, the court ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The case was adjourned until July 22, 2026, for the commencement of trial.