‘N27bn fraud’: Court grants ex-Taraba Gov N150m bail

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, bail of N150 million in the alleged fraud case valued at N27 billion.

Justice Sylvanus Chinedu Oriji ordered Ishaku to produce two sureties in like sum.

Ishaku was arraigned on alongside a former Permanent Secretary Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero on a 15-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds in the state to the tune of N27 billion.

The judge further ordered that the two sureties must be federal government employees and one must be a director.

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Similarly, he said the two sureties must be residents in the FCT with their house addresses to be verified by the registrar of the court.

The judge barred Ishaku and his co-defendant, Yero from travelling out of the country without the permission of the court.

The court made the orders after the defence lawyers, Paul Haris Ogbole, (SAN), and Oluwa Damilola Kayode, both representing Ishaku and Yero respectively made oral bail applications, informing that the court they were already on administrative bail.

Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Court (EFCC), Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) did not oppose the bail request of the former governor after he earlier insisted on formal application rather than orally.

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