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Ex-Gov. Ishaku’s N27 Billion Fraud Allegation Latest

Posted on October 3, 2024 by

Taraba State former governor, Darius Ishaku has been granted bail in the sum of N150 million by a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in the N27 billion fraud allegation case.

He was granted the bail by Justice Sylvanus Oriji with two sureties in the same amount. According to the bail condition, one of the two sureties must be a Federal Government employee of the rank of Director.

Also, the two sureties must be residents in the FCT with their house addresses to be verified by the Registrar of the Court.

Besides, the former governor and his co-defendant, Bello Hero have been barred from traveling out of the country by Justice Oriji, except with the permission of the court.

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Justice Oriji after granting the bail fixed November 4, 5 and 13 for commencement of trial in the alleged fraud.

For those who don’t know, Ishaku, after serving as governor for eight years, was slammed with 15 count charges by the EFCC but pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned on Monday.

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

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The charge marked CR/792/24 reads in part:

“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.”

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.