The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned former Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, alongside Bello Yero, the former Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Taraba State, before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, on fraud-related charges.
The duo faces a 15-count charge involving criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and the conversion of public funds amounting to N27 billion.
One of the charges alleges that between July 2015 and May 2019, Ishaku and Yero, while serving as governor and permanent secretary respectively, misappropriated over N1.13 billion, funds meant for the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
This breach of trust contravenes Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, 2007, and is punishable under the same section.
Another charge accuses them of dishonestly diverting the same amount within the same period, violating Section 308 of the Penal Code Act, CAP 532, and punishable under Section 309 of the act.
Both defendants pleaded “Not guilty” to all charges. Following their pleas, EFCC’s prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), requested a trial date and accelerated proceedings.
In contrast, defense attorneys, Paul Haris Ogbole and Oluwa Damilola Kayode, representing Ishaku and Yero, made oral bail applications, which Jacobs opposed, insisting on formal applications.
Justice Oriji adjourned the hearing on bail applications to October 3, ordering the defendants to be remanded in EFCC custody until then. Both were initially arrested on September 27, 2024.
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