The former Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, and the former Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, have been remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja. The remand order follows their arrest on September 27, 2024, over allegations of fraud involving N27 billion belonging to the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The EFCC, in a suit marked CR/792/24, accused the former governor and the permanent secretary of diverting N1,010,000,000 between August 2015 and March 2016. The commission said the amount was part of the 2.5% contingency funds allocated to the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, which was unlawfully diverted for personal use.
The EFCC also listed other funds allegedly siphoned by the defendants, including:
- N650,686,369.99 between January 6, 2019, and April 29, 2021,
- N193,030,000 within the same period, and
- N170,549,842.00 from January 2019 to April 2021.
These acts are said to be contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code A, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, 2007, and are punishable under the same section.
Upon their arraignment, both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them. Dele Oyewale, spokesperson for the EFCC, noted that the lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, requested an expedited trial to ensure swift justice.
In response, the defense counsel, Paul Haris Ogbole, SAN, representing Darius Ishaku, and Oluwa Damilola Kayode, representing Bello Yero, made oral bail applications, which Jacobs opposed, demanding formal applications instead.
The presiding judge has adjourned the hearing on the bail applications to Thursday, October 3, 2024. Until then, both Ishaku and Yero will remain in the custody of the EFCC, pending further proceedings.
This high-profile case has garnered significant attention, as it highlights the ongoing crackdown on corruption by the EFCC, particularly among former governors and top government officials.
