The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former governor of Taraba State, Darius Dickson Ishaku, and a former permanent secretary in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Bello Yero, before Justice S. C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, over alleged N27billion fraud.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said both Ishaku and Yero were being prosecuted on a 15-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds in the state to the tune of N27,000,000,000.00.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 per cent contingency fund belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State and you 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.”
Another charge 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, dishonestly misappropriated certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N1, 138, 082, 097.71, which sum formed part of the 2.5 per cent contingency fund belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Act.”
The duo pleaded “not guilty” when all the charges were read to them, prompting prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, to ask the court for a trial date as well as accelerated hearing on the matter, while Paul Haris Ogbole, and Oluwadamilola Kayode, counsels to Ishaku and Yero, respectively, made oral bail applications which Jacobs opposed, insisting on formal applications.
Justice Oriji, therefore, adjourned the matter till Thursday, October 3, for hearing of the bail applications and ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC’s custody.
