JUST IN: Ex-Taraba gov, Ishaku gets N150m bail in alleged N27bn fraud case

Former governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, was on Thursday granted bail in the amount of N150 million by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) concerning the alleged N27 billion fraud charge instituted against him by the Federal Government.

The bail was awarded to the former governor by Justice Sylvanus Oriji, who required two sureties to be provided in the identical amount.

One of the sureties must hold a position as a Federal Government employee at the rank of Director.

In addition, both sureties are required to be residents within the FCT, with their residential addresses subject to verification by the Registrar of the Court.

Moreover, Justice Oriji imposed a restriction on the former governor and his co-defendant, Bello Hero, prohibiting them from traveling outside the country unless granted permission by the court.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by its counsel Rotimi Jacobs, did not oppose the granting of bail.

Jacobs remarked that the EFCC had previously issued administrative bail to Darious Ishaku, who had adhered to the stipulated conditions without absconding.

Following the granting of bail, Justice Oriji scheduled the commencement of trial for November 4, 5, and 13 regarding the alleged fraud.

Ishaku, who concluded his tenure in office in 2023 after serving as governor for eight years, faced 15 count charges brought forth by the EFCC but entered a plea of not guilty during his arraignment on Monday.

According to the charge sheet dated September 27, the former governor and the former Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, are the two defendants implicated in this case.

In the charge designated CR/792/24, the EFCC has accused the defendants of appropriating the sum of N1,010,000,000 for their personal use between August 25, 2015, and March 21, 2016, in Abuja.

The agency asserts that this amount constituted part of the 2.5 percent contingency funds belonging to the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

The EFCC further contended that the pair committed an offence in contravention of Section 315 of the Penal Code A, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007, which is punishable under the same section.

Ishaku and Yero were additionally charged with the misappropriation of a total sum of N1,138,082,097.71, which also constituted part of the 2.5 percent contingency fund belonging to the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs between July 2015 and May 2019.

Furthermore, between September 3, 2015, and January 29, 2018, in Abuja, the defendants were accused of misappropriating the sum of N761,301,000 to offset a loan of N1 billion extended by Zenith Bank Plc. to their company, Worthy Construction Limited.

“That you 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 19, 2019 and February 5, 2021 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 N3,348,942,411.15, which sum formed part of the funds belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State and Local Government Councils in Taraba State, and you thereby committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when you dishonestly diverted the said sum to your own use,” the charge sheet partly read.

Other sums that allegedly formed part of the contingency fund diverted by the defendants include N650,686,369.99 between January 6, 2019, and April 29, 2021; N193,030,000 between January 2019 and April 29, 2021; and N170,549,842.00 between January 6, 2019, and April 29, 2021, among others.