Abuja: The N27 billion fraud trial of former Taraba State governor, Darius Ishaku, hit a setback on Wednesday at the Abuja High Court following the absence of Bello Yero, the former Permanent Secretary of the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, whose testimony is considered pivotal to the proceedings.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Ishaku and Yero with criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and conversion of public funds to the tune of N27 billion.
They both pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.
At the resumed hearing in the case, counsel for Yero, Adeola Adedipe SAN, apologised to the court for his client’s absence and accepted responsibility for this.
He said that since the commencement of the case, his client had always been present in court for his trial.
According to the senior advocate, he thought the court had vacated today’s date, which was why he could not mobilise Yero to be in court.
He added that when he learnt that the matter was to be held today, he immediately got in touch with his client, who is in Adamawa, and directed him to make it to Abuja on the first available flight today.
While requesting a stand-down of the matter until 1pm, Adedipe informed the court that Yero was at the Yola airport awaiting a flight to Abuja.
Responding to the application, counsel for Ishaku, Chris Umar, SAN, told the court that, ordinarily, he would not oppose the stand-down application.
He said, but for the fact that the former governor was not feeling well and was scheduled to see his doctor after the court proceedings.
Responding, the prosecution counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, told the court that the prosecution was seriously constrained to oppose the application for a stand down.
He added that the witnesses are in court for continuation.
He confirmed Adedipe’s submission that Yero has always been attending court sittings to face his trial.
He urged the court to accede to the prayer of the counsel for the second defendant.
While ruling on the application, Justice Sylvanus Oriji noted that from the court records, Yero has always been in court for proceedings in the case.
He further held that, given the uncertainties in the aviation sector, the court would rather adjourn the case instead of standing it down as requested by the second defendant’s counsel.
Justice Oriji subsequently adjourned until Feb. 9 for the continuation of evidence of the second prosecution witness.