The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, September 30, 2024, arraigned the former governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, and the ex-Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Bello Yero, the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in the Maitama area of Abuja for fraud.

Ishaku and Yero are being prosecuted on a 15-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds to the tune of N27 billion.

One of the charges read: “That you Darius Dickson Ishaku whilst being the governor of Taraba State and Bello Yero whilst being the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State between July, 2015 and May, 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N1,138,082,097.71, which sum formed part of the 2.5% contingency fund belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when you dishonestly diverted the said sum to your own use and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under the same Section.”

Another count read: “That you Darius Dickson Ishaku whilst being the governor of Taraba State and Bello Yero, whilst being the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State between July, 2015 and May, 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly misappropriated certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N1,138,082,097.71, which sum formed part of the 2.5% contingency fund belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Act.”

EFCC arrests ex-Governor Ishaku over N27bn fraud

The defendants pleaded “not guilty” when all the charges were read to them, prompting prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), to ask the court for a trial date as well as accelerated hearing of the matter.

Paul Haris Ogbole (SAN) and Oluwa Damilola Kayode, counsel to Ishaku and Yero, respectively, made oral bail applications which Jacobs opposed, insisting on formal applications.

The presiding judge, Justice S. C Oriji, however, adjourned the matter till Thursday, October 3, for hearing on bail applications and ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC’s custody.

The Star