Plane crash: Taraba gov’s ADC, others flown to Germany

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.