Ex-Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku

By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA—Former Taraba State governor, Darius Ishaku, was, yesterday, arraigned before Justice S. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, over alleged misappropriation of N27 billion state funds.

Ishaku, alongside former permanent secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, are facing a 15-count charge of criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which brought the charge, accused Ishaku and Yero of diverting N1.138 billion from the 2.5 percent contingency fund, belonging to the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, between July 2015 and May 2019.

The charges include dishonestly misappropriating the said sum, contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007.

Ishaku and Yero pleaded not guilty to all charges, prompting prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, to request a trial date and accelerated hearing.

Counsel to Ishaku and Yero, Paul Harris Ogbole, SAN, and Oluwa Kayode, respectively, made oral bail applications, which Jacobs opposed, insisting on formal applications.

Justice Oriji adjourned the matter till October 3, for hearing on bail applications and ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC custody.