The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five Nigerians at the Federal High Court in Abuja on alleged concealment of information on the whereabouts of a governor of Bayelsa State, Timiprey Silva.
Silva, a former minister, is alleged to be the mastermind of the coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu.
They were arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Peter Lifu.
A two-count charge slammed against them indicated that the accused persons on April 28, 2026, became accessories after the fact of felony by concealing the whereabouts of Silva, alleged to be a fugitive of the law.
The alleged offence is said to be contrary to Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The DSS also accused them of conspiracy to commit a felony, to wit: concealing the whereabouts of Timiprey Silva, who is a fugitive of the law, contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code LFN, 2004.
However, all the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to them.
DSS lawyer, Emmanuel Orubor, asked the Judge to give a date for the DSS to open their trial by calling witnesses to testify against them.
However, Sunusi Musa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN who stood for the first and fourth accused persons, moved an application for bail of his clients on various grounds.
