Suntai Can't Appear Before Assembly's Medical Panel -AG

Ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State will not appear before
the medical panel set up by the State House of Assembly to determine
his state of health, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for
Justice, Mr. Timothy Kataps, has said.

The Speaker, Mr. Josiah Kente, last week set up a five-man medical
team to investigate the "true state of health" of Suntai, following a
letter from the state executive council to the lawmakers to constitute
a medical panel to ascertain the "mental and physical condition of the
governor."

The five-man medial panel has Prof. B.B Shehu as Chairman with Dr.
Inusa Samaila, Prof. Peter Alabi, Dr. Shehu Sule and Dr. Ahmed Kara,
the Suntai's personal physician, as members.

Kataps, in an interview with our correspondent on Sunday, said since
the matter was already a subject matter of judicial interpretation, it
would not be legally advisable for him to appear before the panel.

He said the medical panel was part of the reliefs Suntai, who returned
to the country two weeks ago, sought in the suit he instituted against
the Assembly when he wrote to them asking them to allow him to resume
duties.

Kataps said, "Remember that the issue of a medical team to examine
Suntai was part of the reliefs we sought in an earlier suit we filed
against the House of Assembly. So until that case is dispensed with,
it will not be wise for the governor to appear before any medical
team."

Suntai is still holed up in Abuja since returning two weeks ago to the
country from medical treatment abroad.