Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas has appointed a former local government area chairman (name withheld), who was declared wanted by the police and 110 others as special advisers.

The ex-council boss was declared wanted by the police in connection with the murder of a former member of the state House of Assembly.

The governor appointed him, along with 110 others, as special advisers on Wednesday.

The deceased was abducted in Takum and killed on December 30, 2017. Since then, the former council chairman has been on the run.

The Taraba State police commissioner, Mr David Iloyanmon, told journalists in Jalingo, the state capital, on April 25, 2024, that the police had been on the trail of the fleeing ex-council boss since the state chief judge ordered his arrest.

He said, “We are looking for him. We recently gathered that he has left the state, and we have been trying to arrest him for possible prosecution; wherever he is, we must get him arrested; it’s just a matter of time.” 

Surprisingly, while announcing the new aides, the governor named the wanted man as one of the appointees.

In a press release issued by the secretary to the state government, Barr. Gibon Kataps, he announced the “approval of appointments as special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants, community special assistants, boards, commissions and agencies of Taraba State government part 1.”

He said, “His Excellency, Dr. Agbu Kefas, the governor of Taraba State, has approved the appointment of the following to occupy the above offices, departments and agencies in the first instance.”

The appointment of the fleeing suspect has generated anger among the family members of the deceased, who expressed shock at the decision of the governor.

A family member who spoke to LEADERSHIP Friday on condition of anonymity for security reasons urged the governor to reverse the appointment and allow the suspect to face trial in a court of law.