The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned no fewer than five individuals said to be close associates of former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, over allegations that they concealed information about his whereabouts.
The aides were arraigned for allegedly withholding information from investigators regarding the location of the former minister, who has reportedly been in hiding since he was linked to an alleged coup plot.
The development follows the Federal Government’s filing of a 13-count charge against seven civilians accused of plotting to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The accused persons, who were investigated by the DSS and the Nigerian military, are facing charges bordering on treasonable felony, conspiracy to overthrow the government, conspiracy to commit terrorism and other offences relating to national security.
Among those standing trial are retired Major-General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Navy Captain Victor Erasmus Ochegobia, serving police inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, and Timipre Sylva, who is being tried in absentia.
Others listed in the charge are Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani, while some serving military personnel linked to the alleged plot are currently undergoing court-martial proceedings.
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Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa State, has reportedly been on the run since April when the other defendants were first arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Providing an update on the case, a senior security source disclosed that five members of Sylva’s staff, described as his close allies, have now been investigated and formally arraigned.
According to the source, the aides are accused of refusing to cooperate with investigators and allegedly withholding information that could have led to Sylva’s arrest.
“Their offence may be more grievous than their principal’s because they failed to disclose his whereabouts and other information that could lead to his arrest,” the source said.
“They have failed to cooperate with investigators. That means they are also accomplices; they are collaborators in this undemocratic stance. They will have their day in court soon,” the source added.
The DSS has yet to issue an official statement on the arraignment, while proceedings in the alleged coup plot case continue before the Federal High Court in Abuja.