N27bn fraud: Court grants ex-Governor Ishaku N150m bail

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in the Maitama area of Abuja, on Thursday, October 3, 2024, granted former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku bail to the tune of N150 million.

Ishaku, who served as governor of Taraba State from May 2015 to May 2023, and the former Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Bello Yero, were on Monday, September 30, arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for fraud.

Ishaku and Yero were arraigned on a 15-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds to the tune of N27 billion.

One of the charges read: “That you Darius Dickson 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 2015 and May 2019 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 N1,138,082,097.71, which sum formed part of the 2.5% contingency fund belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when you dishonestly diverted the said sum to your own use and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under the same Section.”

EFCC arraigns ex-Governor Ishaku, Perm Sec for N27bn fraud

However, the presiding judge, Justice Sylvanus Orji, in a ruling on Thursday, granted the former governor and Yero N150 million bail with two sureties in like sum.

Justice Orji said the two sureties must be residents of Abuja, with their house addresses verified by the registrar of the court.

The judge added that one of the sureties must be a director with the Federal Civil Service.

Justice Oriji also barred the Ishaku and Yero from travelling out of Nigeria except with permission of the court.

The EFCC, through its counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, did not oppose the bail request of the former governor.

Jacobs said the anti-graft agency had granted Ishaku administrative bail and he did not jump the bail.

Justice Oriji, thereafter, announced November 4, 5, and 13 as dates for the commencement of trial.

The Star