The absence of former Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, stalled his ongoing trial on Monday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
His co-defendant, a former Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Bello Yero, was present in court.
Ishaku and Yero are facing a 15-count charge brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
They are accused of criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and conversion of public funds totalling N27bn, to which they have pleaded not guilty.
The EFCC counsel, Oluwaleke Atolegbe, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the continuation of trial, but the former governor was not present.
He said the court had granted Ishaku permission to travel for health reasons but noted that the permission did not extend his stay outside the country.
“The first defendant is not in court. We were served with a letter by the first defendant’s counsel.
“The order of the court does not extend his stay anywhere outside the country. The order was clear that he should be present in court today. The letter written by the first defendant’s counsel does not indicate when he will be available,” Atolegbe said.
Responding, Ishaku’s counsel, Chris Umaru, told the court that the leave granted to his client to travel was given on January 29.
“My Lord, it took us about two or three weeks to process my client’s visa. He received his visa on February 24,” Umaru explained.
The court had granted Ishaku permission to travel for routine medical check-ups on January 29.
Umaru assured the court that his client had never been absent from his trial and requested a new date in June, which the court rejected.
Justice Slyvanius Oriji subsequently adjourned the case until April 28.