The accused — Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha and Ayebaifie Suobite — were arraigned before Justice Peter Lifu on a two-count charge. They pleaded not guilty.
After the defendants’ plea, lawyer to the prosecution, E.G. Orubor urged the court to adjourn for the commencement of trial.
Defence lawyers, including Sunusi Musa (SAN) moved applications for bail, which Justice Lifu granted.
The judge granted bail to each of them at N5million, with two sureties, who must be residents of Abuja and provide their tax clearance certificates.
He adjourned till July 22 for the commencement of trial and ordered the remand of the defendants in Kuje prison until they meet the bail conditions.
The defendants are, in count one, alleged to have on or about April 28 in Abuja, become “accessories after the fact of felony by concealing the whereabouts of Timiprey Sylva, who is a fugitive of the law.”
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act.
They are, in count two, alleged to have conspired to commit a felony by concealing the whereabouts of Sylva, who is a fugitive of the law.
The offence is contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act LFN, 2004.
The five defendants, who were arrested last year, had filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit, demanding that they be either released or arraigned in court.
In the suit, they described themselves as domestic workers and aides to Sylva.
Anagaha’s wife, Preye stated, in a supporting affidavit, that the DSS operatives arrested her husband and others on 25 October 2025 at Sylva’s house in Maitama, Abuja.
Mrs. Anagaha, who described her husband as “a domestic staff member” to Sylva, further stated that “When Chief Timipre Sylva was not found at the residence, the operatives arrested three aide and domestic workers including my husband.”
Sylva featured in the charge filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) against six men currently being prosecuted before a Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged coup plot against the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
Sylva is not named as a defendant in the 13-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026, but was described in some of the counts as “still at large.”
The six are: Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (rtd), Captain (NN) Erasmus Ochegobia Victor (rtd), Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.
Hearing in the trial of the six alleged coup plotters continues on Thursday before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.