A Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja has ordered that former governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, and a former permanent secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Taraba, Bello Yero, should be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Sylvanus Oriji made the ruling on Monday after the EFCC arraigned both men on a 15-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and conversion of public funds to the tune of N27 billion.
Both defendants were arrested on September 27, 2024.
One of the charges reads: “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 (one billion, one hundred and thirty-eight million, eighty-two thousand, ninety- seven naira, seventy-one kobo), which sum formed part of the 2.5% contingency fund belonging to the 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.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty, prompting prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs to ask the court for a trial date as well as an accelerated hearing of the matter. Paul Ogbole and Oluwadamilola Kayode, counsel to Ishaku and Yero respectively, made oral bail applications which Jacobs opposed, insisting on formal applications.
Justice Oriji adjourned the matter till Thursday, October 3 for a hearing on bail applications.
