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Court Grants Former Taraba Governor Darius Ishaku N150 Million Bail In N27 Billion Fraud Case
Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges during their arraignment on Monday and requested bail pending the hearing of the case.
Abuja, Nigeria– A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama has granted bail to former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku and former Permanent Secretary Bello Yero, each in the sum of N150 million.
The bail was granted on Thursday as both defendants face trial for their alleged involvement in a N27 billion fraud case.
Ishaku and Yero are accused of a 15-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which includes allegations of criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and illegal conversion of public funds.
Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges during their arraignment on Monday and requested bail pending the hearing of the case.
While the EFCC’s lead counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, opposed the initial bail request, he did not contest the application during Thursday’s proceedings.
Justice Oriji subsequently granted the bail, ordering the defendants to provide two sureties each, who must reside within the Federal Capital Territory.
The trial is set to resume on November 4, as the defendants prepare to contest the serious charges against them.
Ishaku and Yero were apprehended by the EFCC on September 27 for their alleged involvement in the diversion of N1.138 billion from the 2.5% contingency fund allocated to the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Taraba State. They face the following charges:
“That you, Darius Dickson Ishaku, during your tenure as Governor of Taraba State, and you, Bello Yero, while serving as Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, between July 2015 and May 2019, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly diverted a total of N1,138,082,097.71, which constituted part of the contingency fund of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, for your personal use. This act constitutes an offence under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act and is punishable under the same Section.”
The EFCC has requested an expedited hearing of the case.
