On Thursday, a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja granted former Taraba State governor Darius Ishaku bail in the amount of N150 million in connection with an alleged N27 billion fraud charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The ruling was made by Justice Sylvanus Oriji, who stipulated that Ishaku provide two sureties at the same bail sum, one of whom must be a federal government employee at the director level. These sureties must also be residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and their addresses must be verified by the court registrar. Additionally, the court imposed restrictions on Ishaku and his co-defendant, Bello Yero, preventing them from traveling outside the country without court permission.
Justice Oriji announced the ruling after considering the bail application, which the prosecution did not oppose. The EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), informed the court that Ishaku had been granted administrative bail by the agency previously, and, given that he complied with those conditions, the prosecution would not contest the new bail request. The trial is set to begin on November 4, 5, and 13, with Ishaku, who served as governor for eight years until 2023, pleading not guilty to the charges at his arraignment on Monday.
Ishaku is facing 15 counts of fraud, as detailed in charge CR/792/24, which is dated September 27. The defendants, Ishaku and Yero, were accused of embezzling approximately N1,010,000,000 from the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs between August 2015 and March 2016. This amount was reported to be part of the 2.5 percent contingency funds allocated to the bureau. These allegations fall under Section 315 of the Penal Code A, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007, which outlines offenses of this nature and their punishments.
Further accusations against Ishaku and his co-defendant include the diversion of another N1,138,082,097.71 from the same contingency fund spanning from July 2015 to May 2019. Additionally, they were alleged to have misappropriated N761,301,000 intended to settle a loan of N1 billion that was granted to Worthy Construction Limited by Zenith Bank Plc, with the diversion occurring within the timeframe of September 3, 2015, to January 29, 2018. These allegations suggest a serious pattern of misuse of state funds during Ishaku’s tenure as governor.
The charges also highlight that between July 19, 2019, and February 5, 2021, Ishaku, as governor, and Yero, as the Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, misappropriated an aggregate amount of N3,348,942,411.15. This sum is said to belong to the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and other local government councils throughout Taraba State. The specifics of the charge underscore the significant financial responsibility held by both defendants and the ethical breach that purportedly occurred during their terms.
Additional instances of alleged embezzlement include diversion amounts of N650,686,369.99 between January 6, 2019, and April 29, 2021; N193,030,000 during January 2019 to April 29, 2021; and N170,549,842 between January 6, 2019, and April 29, 2021. The multitude of specific fund misappropriations adds gravity to the case, painting a picture of systemic fraud that extends beyond a single incident. The ruling on bail represents just one phase in what is poised to be a complex legal battle for Ishaku and Yero, who now face significant charges that could have lasting ramifications for them and public trust in governmental institutions.
