A cabal funded by former General Theophilus Danjuma and whose members are close to brain-damaged Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State has flown him back the governor into Nigeria tonight. Mr. Suntai arrived in the country through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and had not disembarked as at press time.
Mr. Danjuma, an oil magnate who was once a top member in a military regime, and the cabal intend to maneuver him back into the governorship seat. Mr. Suntai, who suffered physical and brain injuries when his plane crashed on December 12, 2012, had spent several months undergoing additional treatment at the Wellington Hospital in London. The governor, who was piloting the plane, was trying to land at the Yola Airport in Adamawa State when the plane crash-landed.
Following the accident, the governor was treated for a few hours at the National Hospital in Abuja before being airlifted to Germany for critical treatment. After some months in Germany, he was transferred to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, in the US state of Maryland. From there, his wife and close political cohorts flew him into Nigeria in August 2013. They claimed at the time that the injured Suntai was mentally and physically fit to resume office. In fact, they forged a statement ostensibly signed by the ailing governor in which he purportedly sacked the acting governor’s political appointees. However, a series of investigative reports by SaharaReporters detailing the governor’s continuing mental incapacity and physical feebleness forced the cabal into retreat. The Taraba State assembly authorized the state’s deputy governor, Garba Umar, to continue acting as governor.
In June, Mr. Suntai was flown to London’s Wellington Hospital for additional treatment of brain injuries. Two Taraba State officials who have seen him recently told SaharaReporters that Mr. Suntai’s physical and mental illness are still very much in evidence. “He is too tired, cannot sit down or talk for more than a few minutes at a time, and is not able to remember basic things,” one of the officials disclosed.
Even so, the cabal around the governor is intent on instigating a power struggle by claiming that Mr. Suntai is adequately recovered from his extensive injuries and is fit to run the state.
Our sources said the governor is still unable to walk without assistance. Besides, his speech still falters and is often incoherent. Mr. Suntai reportedly has difficulty recognizing his environment or remembering names.
However, the cabal led by Mr. Danjuma, Nigeria’s former Minister of Defense and oil tycoon, is determined to prevent acting Governor Garba Umar from remaining in office much less taking over power.
Our sources said the cabal has arranged for Mr. Suntai to be quietly brought into Nigeria’s capital, Abuja at 9 p.m. today. “The reason his flight is scheduled to arrive at night is that they don’t want the public seeing his condition,” one source said.
Another source told SaharaReporters that Mr. Danjuma owns the private jet that flew the ailing governor into Nigeria this night. The governor was accompanied by his wife as well as his personal physician, Dr. Ahmed Kara.
Three days ago the state executive wrote a letter to the Taraba State Assembly in Jalingo urging the legislators to set up a medical panel to ascertain Mr. Suntai’s state of physical and mental fitness to lead the state. As at press time, SaharaReporters heard the state assembly had constituted the committee and might announce their names on Monday.