The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has adjourned the ongoing trial of former Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, to June 15, 2026, following the withdrawal of counsel representing the second defendant.
Presiding Judge S. C. Oriji granted the adjournment after counsel to the second defendant, Bello Yero, announced his immediate withdrawal from the case during proceedings on Thursday.
“I would like to bring to your notice my withdrawal of service, urging my Lord to grant it,” said the defence lawyer, Samuel Fagade, adding that his client was aware and had begun considering a replacement.
Ishaku and Yero, a former permanent secretary in the state’s Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 15-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and diversion of public funds amounting to N27 billion.
The trial was set to continue with the prosecution’s third witness, Taiwo Johns, but proceedings were halted following the development.
Addressing the court, Yero requested additional time to secure new legal representation.
“I want to plead with His Lordship to grant me an adjournment of four to six weeks to enable me to get legal representation. As it is now, I don’t have any lawyer,” he said.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, did not oppose the adjournment but questioned the timing of the withdrawal. He noted that the outgoing counsel had been present at the previous sitting when the witness began testifying and failed to provide the legally required notice.
“When we called our PW3, this counsel was there. He should have at least given the court three days’ notice,” Jacobs argued.
He further alleged that the second defendant may not have been entirely forthcoming, claiming that a new lawyer had accompanied him to court but withdrew his appearance from the cause list.
“The second defendant came with a lawyer. They came together to this court, and the lawyer is in court hearing me,” Jacobs said, urging the court to deny a lengthy adjournment.
However, the lawyer in question later addressed the court, confirming preliminary discussions with Yero but stating that no formal agreement had been reached.
Justice Oriji subsequently approved the withdrawal of counsel and adjourned the matter to June 15, with additional dates fixed for July 2, 7, 13, 14, and 15, 2026, for the continuation of the trial.
