Reporting by *Premium Times* indicates that the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama has granted the former Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, permission to travel to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for spinal surgery. The ruling was delivered by Justice Sylvanus Oriji after the prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), raised no objections to the former governor’s medical application. Ishaku is currently facing a 15-count charge involving the alleged diversion of N27 billion in public funds.
The defense counsel argued that the spine surgery was urgent and could not be delayed, assuring the court that the former governor would return to face his trial. Accepting these assurances, the judge ordered Ishaku to return to Nigeria before October 5, 2026, when substantive hearings are scheduled to resume. The co-defendant in the case, Bello Yero, a former permanent secretary, did not seek travel clearance.
During the same court session, the prosecution’s third witness, Taiwo Jones, gave detailed testimony regarding how millions of naira belonging to various local governments were transferred to a private company account. The witness stated that these financial movements were made strictly under the instructions of senior officials during Ishaku’s tenure.
The medical clearance has been widely confirmed by other news platforms. According to *BusinessDay*, “a prosecution witness has told an Abuja High Court that about N1.8 billion belonging to local government councils in Taraba State was transferred into his private company’s account”. The *Political Economist* also reported on the judicial reprieve, confirming that the “court clears ex-Taraba Gov Darius Ishaku for medical trip in UAE”.
Echotitbits take:
Granting medical leave to high-profile defendants in corruption cases is a common occurrence in Nigeria’s judicial system, often sparking public skepticism regarding the speed of justice. It remains critical for the judiciary to ensure that such medical reprieves do not lead to indefinite delays in recovering public funds.
Source: Premium Times – https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/895323-court-grants-former-taraba-governor-darius-ishaku-permission-to-travel-abroad-on-health-grounds.html, July 14, 2026
Photo credit: Vanguard
