Alleged N27bn fraud: EFCC roots ex-Taraba gov, Ishaku, one other

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned former governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, before an FCT High Court on allegations of fraud.

Ishaku was inducted on Monday alongside former Permanent Secretary Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero on a 15-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds in the state to the tune of N27 billion.

Among the charges against the two defendants is the allegation that they, between July 2015 and May 2019 in Abuja diverted the sum of N1,138 billion of the 2.5 per cent contingency fund belonging to the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State committing criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property.

The EFCC alleged that the offenses breached the provisions of sections 315 and 308 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, 2007. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Thus, the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) pleaded for a trial date and an accelerated hearing in the matter. However, defense lawyers, Paul Haris Ogbole (SAN) and Oluwa Damilola Kayode, both representing Ishaku and Yero respectively made oral bail applications which Jacobs opposed, insisting on formal applications.

Justice Sylvanus Chinedu Oriji, adjourned the matter until Thursday, October 3, for a hearing on the bail applications and ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC’s custody.