Rita Odafe
Darius Dickson Ishaku
On Monday, September 30, former Taraba State governor Darius Dickson Ishaku and ex-permanent secretary Bello Yero were presented in court accused of fraud. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought them before Justice S. C. Oriji at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
They face 15 counts relating to serious charges including conspiracy, breach of trust, and misappropriating public funds totaling N27 billion.
One of the accusations states: “While serving as governor and permanent secretary from July 2015 to May 2019 in Abuja, both were entrusted with management of public funds amounting to N1,138,082,097.71, which belonged to the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. They unlawfully diverted this money for personal use, violating Section 315 of the Penal Code Act.
An additional charge claims: During the same period, they wrongfully appropriated the same amount from the designated contingency fund of the Bureau, infringing upon Section 308 of the Penal Code Act.
Both Ishaku and Yero pleaded “not guilty” to the charges. The prosecution, led by Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, requested a trial date and expedited proceedings. Meanwhile, the defense attorneys, Paul Haris Ogbole, SAN, and Oluwa Damilola Kayode, made oral bail requests, which Jacobs contested, suggesting formal submissions instead.
Justice Oriji has scheduled the next hearing for bail applications on Thursday, October 3, and instructed that the defendants stay in EFCC custody. They were apprehended on September 27, 2024.
