JUST IN: Court grants ex-Taraba governor Ishaku N150m bail over alleged N27bn fraud

A federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Maitama has granted a N150 million bail to Darius Ishaku, former governor of Taraba state.

Ishaku was arraigned on Monday alongside Bello Yero, former permanent secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

The two defendants are facing a 15-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which accuses them of criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and illegal conversion of public funds.

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During their arraignment on Monday, both men pleaded not guilty to the charges and requested bail, pending the hearing and determination of the case.

Their lawyers, Paul Ogbole, SAN, and Oluwa Kayode, made oral applications for bail.

The EFCC’s lead counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, opposed the bail request, insisting the defense must file a formal application to allow him to respond appropriately.

However, during Thursday’s proceedings, Justice Oriji granted bail after the prosecution did not oppose the request.

While the EFCC has requested an accelerated hearing of the case.

The court ordered both defendants to provide two sureties each, who must reside within the Federal Capital Territory.

Justice Oriji barred the former governor and his co-defendant, Bello Hero, from travelling out of the country except with permission of the court.

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

Jacobs stated that the anti-graft agency had granted the ex-governor administrative bail and he did not jump the bail.

Justice Oriji subsequently fixed November 4, 5 and 13 for the commencement of trial.

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Ishaku and Yero were arrested by the EFCC on September 27 in connection with the alleged diversion of N1.138 billion from the 2.5% contingency fund belonging to the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Taraba State.

He was governor of Taraba State in Nigeria’s North-East zone from May 2015 to May 2023. He was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The charges against him and Bello Yero include:“That you, Darius Dickson Ishaku, while being Governor of Taraba State, and you, Bello Yero, while being Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, between July 2015 and May 2019, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly diverted an aggregate sum of N1,138,082,097.71, which formed part of the contingency fund of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, to your personal use, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act and punishable under the same Section.”

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