The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku and Bello Yero, a former Permanent Secretary of the state’s Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on charges of fraud.
The duo is facing a 15-count charge of criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and the conversion of public funds amounting to N27 billion.
One of the charges brought against them reads: “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, between July 2015 and May 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, committed criminal breach of trust by dishonestly diverting the sum of N1,138,082,097.71, which formed part of the 2.5% contingency fund belonging to the Bureau, for your own use, thereby committing 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.”
The defendants are accused of misappropriating sums of money intended for local government administration and chieftaincy affairs during Ishaku’s tenure as governor.
During the court proceedings, both Ishaku and Yero pleaded “not guilty” to all charges. The EFCC‘s lead counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), requested an accelerated hearing and a trial date. Defense counsels, Paul Haris Ogbole and Oluwa Damilola Kayode, representing Ishaku and Yero respectively, applied for bail for their clients. However, Jacobs opposed the oral bail applications, asking the court to insist on formal applications.
Justice Sylvanus Oriji adjourned the case to Thursday, October 3, for a hearing on the bail applications and ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC custody.
The EFCC had arrested both Ishaku and Yero on September 27, 2024.
