Darius Ishaku, the former governor of Taraba State, and Bello Yero, the former Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, have been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged fraud. They’re facing a 15-count charge, including criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and conversion of public funds totaling N27 billion .
The charges against them are pretty serious. For instance, one of the counts alleges that between July 2015 and May 2019, Ishaku and Yero diverted N1.138 billion from the 2.5% contingency fund belonging to the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, for their personal use .This is a clear breach of trust, and they’re being charged under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007.
Another count reads: “That you Darius Dickson Sshaku 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 (one billion, one hundred and thirty-eight million, eighty-two thousand, ninety-seven naira, seventy-one kobo, which sum formed part of the 2.5% contingency fund belonging to the 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.”
They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, prompting the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, to request a trial date and accelerated hearing. However, counsel to Ishaku and Yero, Paul Haris Ogbole and Oluwa Damilola Kayode, made oral bail applications, which Jacobs opposed, insisting on formal applications.
Justice Sylvanus Oriji has 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 . Ishaku and Yero were arrested on September 27, 2024, before being arraigned.
