FCT High Court allows ex-governor to undergo spinal surgery while EFCC witness details alleged movement of hundreds of millions of naira from local government accounts.
By A1NEWS International
ABUJA, Nigeria — July 14, 2026
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday granted former Taraba State Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku permission to travel to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), for spinal surgery, even as proceedings continued in his ongoing trial over the alleged diversion of N27 billion in public funds.
The court’s ruling came after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) raised no objection to Ishaku’s request for overseas medical treatment, while the prosecution simultaneously presented detailed testimony alleging how hundreds of millions of naira were paid into a private company’s bank account and later withdrawn in cash during the period under investigation.
The case remains one of the EFCC’s most closely watched corruption prosecutions involving a former state governor.
Court Approves Medical Trip
Justice Sylvanus Oriji granted the application after considering a motion filed on behalf of the former governor seeking leave to travel abroad for urgent medical attention.
The motion, dated July 13, 2026, was moved by Ishaku’s counsel, Chris Umar, SAN, during proceedings in the criminal case marked FCT/HC/CR/792/2024.
According to the application, Ishaku requires spinal surgery in Dubai based on the recommendation of his medical specialists.
Justice Oriji ruled that the defendant should be allowed to travel to undergo the medical procedure, noting that the leave would expire before the next adjourned hearing.
The matter was subsequently adjourned until October 5, 2026, for continuation of trial.
EFCC Raises No Objection
In a development that cleared the way for the court’s approval, the prosecution, led by Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, informed the court that it had no objection to the application.
Counsel representing the second defendant, Hussaini Zakariyya, SAN, also supported the application.
The absence of opposition from all parties enabled the court to grant the request without prolonged argument.
Former Governor Faces N27 Billion Corruption Charges
Ishaku is standing trial alongside Bello Yero, former Permanent Secretary in Taraba State’s Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The EFCC has filed a 15-count charge against both defendants bordering on:
- Criminal breach of trust;
- Conspiracy; and
- Alleged conversion of public funds amounting to N27 billion.
The anti-graft agency alleges that the defendants participated in the unlawful diversion of public resources during Ishaku’s tenure as governor.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty, insisting they committed no offence.
Witness Describes Alleged Cash Movement Through Private Company
Before the court considered the medical application, the prosecution continued presenting evidence through its third witness (PW3), Taiwo Jones, an assistant cashier with the Taraba State Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Jones told the court that several local government councils in Taraba State allegedly paid millions of naira into the account of P3 Cornerstone Nigeria Limited, a private company with an account domiciled at United Bank for Africa (UBA), between July and November 2019.
According to the witness, the deposits were made either through bank transfers or cash deposits.
He claimed the transactions were carried out based on instructions received from officials within the Bureau, including the second defendant, Bello Yero, and the Bureau’s Director of Finance, Babangida Hassan.
Witness Alleges Cash Was Handed to Former Governor’s Aide
Jones testified that whenever money entered the company’s account, he reported the deposits to his superiors before receiving instructions on how the funds should be handled.
According to his testimony, the usual directive was to withdraw the money in cash.
He further alleged that after withdrawing the funds, he handed the cash to Dare Lawal, identified in court as a former aide to ex-Governor Ishaku.
Describing one of the transactions, Jones told the court that on July 29, 2019, three local government councils—Gashaka, Donga and Zing—deposited a combined N110.5 million into the company’s account.
He said:
- Gashaka Local Government deposited N35 million;
- Donga deposited N40.5 million; and
- Zing deposited N35 million.
The witness stated that he withdrew the entire amount and handed it over after Bello Yero and Dare Lawal confirmed receipt at the bank.
Several Transactions Detailed Before Court
Jones further narrated a series of additional transactions allegedly involving funds from various local government councils.
He told the court that prior to the July 29 transaction, deposits had also been received from:
- Donga;
- Jalingo;
- Gashaka; and
- Yorro Local Government Areas.
According to him, the funds were withdrawn and delivered to the second defendant as instructed.
The witness also testified that:
- On July 24, 2019, N4.4 million was paid into the company’s account by Blessed Springs Modern Communication, after which he allegedly reported the transaction to the Bureau’s Director of Finance.
- On July 30, 2019, additional deposits included N30.5 million from Donga Local Government, N29 million from another local government cashier whose identity he said he could not confirm, N73 million from Gassol Local Government and N50 million from Bali Local Government.
- On August 19, 2019, Donga Local Government allegedly issued a manager’s cheque of N79.05 million, while N73 million was eventually credited into the account.
- Gashaka Local Government allegedly transferred another N72,999,842 into the same account on the same day.
Jones further claimed that between August 20 and November 14, 2019, deposits totaling N575,169,684 were received from several Taraba local governments and Blessed Springs Modern Communication.
He also alleged that an additional N110 million from Blessed Springs was reported to Bello Yero before being withdrawn.
Defence Yet to Open Its Case
The testimony forms part of the EFCC’s ongoing effort to establish how public funds were allegedly moved through private accounts before being withdrawn in cash.
The defence has yet to open its case or cross-examine all prosecution witnesses fully on the substance of the allegations.
Under Nigerian law, the allegations remain unproven until the court reaches a final verdict.
Implications of the Trial
The prosecution of Darius Ishaku is one of several high-profile corruption cases involving former governors currently before Nigerian courts.
Legal analysts say the proceedings will test the strength of documentary and witness evidence relied upon by anti-corruption agencies in tracing the movement of public funds.
The court’s decision to permit overseas medical treatment also reflects the judiciary’s balancing of an accused person’s constitutional right to healthcare with the need to ensure continued attendance during criminal proceedings.
With the former governor now cleared to travel abroad for spinal surgery and the prosecution continuing to build its case through witness testimony, the trial enters another critical phase.
When proceedings resume on October 5, attention will focus on whether the EFCC can substantiate its allegations with documentary evidence linking the financial transactions to the defendants, while the defence is expected to challenge the credibility and interpretation of the prosecution’s evidence before the court reaches a final determination.
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