The three political aides of Governor
Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State, who have been receiving treatment at the
National Hospital, Abuja, following injuries sustained in a plane crash last
week, were on Saturday flown to Germany for proper medical attention.
The affected aides were Suntai’s
Aide-de-camp, Dasat Iliya, the Chief Security Officer, Timo Dangana, and the
governor’s Chief Detail, Joel Danladi.
The cash victims were said to have
left the hospital around 8:02am, and were airborne aboard an air ambulance, a
Challenger 601 with registration number D-BUSY, about 9:05am.
They were earlier been brought from
Yola Specialist Hospital to the National Hospital. Their treatment at home had
elicited criticism from their family members and civil rights organisations who
said they should be given similar treatment as the governor.
SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that their trip to Germany was facilitated by the governor
who wanted to be sure that his aides got expert medical attention considering
the severity of the plane crash.
When contacted, the spokesperson of
the Hospital, Dr. Tayo Haastrup, confirmed the report.
He said, “They were evacuated from
the National Hospital to Germany.”
The personal physician to the
governor, Dr. Ahmed Kara, also confirmed the trip.
He said, “The trip by the ADC is
necessary because he needs further treatment but the other two can be handled
here and they have already been handled. But the governor doesn’t know their
condition; so we decided to take them to Germany so that they can see their
governor and the governor can see them too. That way, they can know that what
we are telling them is true.”
Kara also explained that they could
not travel earlier on Wednesday as earlier scheduled because of delays in
processing their visas.
Our correspondent further learnt that
Iliya suffered fractures and was unconscious for days, necessitating the delay
in his evacuation.
Earlier, the Taraba State
Commissioner of Information, Mr. Emmanuel Bello, had said apart from Iliya, who
was in the Intensive Care Unit, the other two aides were in good condition and
could return to work anytime from now.
“Their level of injuries does not
call for serious concern,” he had said.
Bello added that it was erroneous to
infer that the decision to first fly Suntai to Germany for treatment was
because the lives of his three aides were less important.