The trial of five men accused of concealing the whereabouts of former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva has been postponed by the Federal High Court in Abuja until October 5.
The case, which was scheduled for the commencement of trial before Justice Peter Lifu on Wednesday, could not proceed as the court did not sit.
The matter was subsequently fixed for October 5, following the court’s annual vacation.
The five defendants – Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha and Ayebaifie Suobite – were arraigned by the State Security Service on July 1 on a two-count charge.
They were accused of being accessories after the fact of felony by allegedly concealing Sylva’s whereabouts, as well as conspiring to commit the offence. The charges were filed under Sections 519 and 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Sylva, who remains at large, is separately facing trial before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik over allegations of involvement in a plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The former deputy petroleum resources minister under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari is not listed as a defendant in the case but is identified as being at large, with the government alleging financial links between him and six suspected coup plotters.
The six suspects – retired Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani – are facing a 13-count charge in the separate case.
During their arraignment on July 1, the five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their lawyers subsequently secured bail, with Justice Lifu granting each defendant ₦5 million bail with two sureties who must reside in Abuja and provide tax clearance certificates.
