Former Taraba State governor, Darius Ishaku, was granted bail on Thursday by a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in connection with an alleged N27 billion fraud case brought by the Federal Government.
The bail, set at N150 million, was approved by Justice Sylvanus Oriji, with two sureties required in the same amount.
One of the sureties must be a Federal Government employee holding the rank of Director, and both sureties must reside in the FCT, with their residential addresses verified by the Court Registrar.
Also, Justice Oriji restricted Ishaku and his co-defendant, Bello Yero, from leaving the country without the court’s permission.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by counsel Rotimi Jacobs, did not oppose the bail, noting that Ishaku had previously been granted administrative bail by the EFCC and had not violated its terms.
Following the bail decision, Justice Oriji scheduled the trial to commence on November 4, 5, and 13.
READ ALSO: Alleged N27bn Fraud: EFCC Arrests Former Taraba Governor
Ishaku, who completed his term as governor in 2023 after eight years in office, was charged with 15 counts by the EFCC. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Monday.
The charge sheet, dated September 27, identifies Ishaku and Bello Yero, the former Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, as co-defendants.
According to the EFCC, the two allegedly diverted N1,010,000,000 for personal use between August 25, 2015, and March 21, 2016, in Abuja. This sum was part of the 2.5% contingency funds belonging to the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The EFCC charged them under Section 315 of the Penal Code A, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, 2007, which outlines penalties for such offenses.
Additionally, Ishaku and Yero are accused of diverting N1,138,082,097.71 from the same fund between July 2015 and May 2019.
Furthermore, they allegedly diverted N761,301,000 between September 3, 2015, and January 29, 2018, to repay a N1 billion loan granted by Zenith Bank Plc to Worthy Construction Limited.
“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,” the charge sheet partly read.’
Other amounts that the defendants are accused of diverting from the contingency fund include N650,686,369.99 between January 6, 2019, and April 29, 2021; N193,030,000 from January 2019 to April 29, 2021; and N170,549,842.00 during the same period, among others.
(Daily Post)
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