Former Taraba Governor Darius Ishaku Granted N150Million Bail In Alleged N27Billion Fraud Case

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama has granted bail to former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku and ex-Permanent Secretary Bello Yero, each in the sum of N150 million.

The ruling, made on Thursday, comes as the duo faces serious allegations linked to a N27 billion fraud case.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has levelled a 15-count charge against Ishaku and Yero, accusing them of criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and illegal conversion of public funds.

However, both defendants pleaded not guilty during their arraignment on Monday and sought bail pending the hearing and determination of their case.

Their lawyers, Paul Ogbole, SAN, and Oluwa Kayode, made oral applications for bail, while the EFCC’s lead counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, opposed the request, insisting that a formal application was necessary for a proper response.

Meanwhile, during Thursday’s proceedings, Justice Oriji granted the bail request after the prosecution did not oppose it.

The court mandated that both Ishaku and Yero to provide two sureties residing within the Federal Capital Territory.

The court has scheduled the next hearing for November 4, as the trial continues.

Darius Dickson Ishaku and Bello Yero were apprehended by the EFCC on September 27 for their alleged involvement in the misappropriation of N1.138 billion from the 2.5% contingency fund allocated to the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Taraba State. They face the following charges:

“That you, Darius Dickson Ishaku, during your tenure as Governor of Taraba State, and you, Bello Yero, while serving as Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, between July 2015 and May 2019, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, unlawfully diverted a total of N1,138,082,097.71 from the contingency fund of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, for your personal use, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, which is punishable under the same section.”

The EFCC has called for an expedited hearing of the case.