The Federal Capital Territory High Court has remanded former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku and the former Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The two were detained following accusations of diverting N27 billion from the Bureau.
The EFCC arrested Ishaku and Yero on September 27, 2024, after investigating their alleged involvement in mismanaging funds allocated to the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
According to the suit, marked CR/792/24, the defendants allegedly funneled over N1 billion to their personal accounts between August 2015 and March 2016 in Abuja. The EFCC contends that this amount was taken from contingency funds belonging to the Bureau.
In addition to this, the EFCC accused the duo of illegally diverting other significant sums, including N650 million between January 2019 and April 2021, as well as N193 million and N170 million during the same period. These funds were also part of the Bureau’s contingency allocations, which were meant for official use.
The charges brought against the two are based on Section 315 of the Penal Code A, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007. If found guilty, the defendants could face severe penalties as outlined in the same section of the law.
During their arraignment, both Ishaku and Yero pleaded not guilty to the charges. Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s spokesperson, stated that Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the prosecution counsel, requested an expedited trial.
However, Paul Haris Ogbole (SAN) and Oluwa Damilola Kayode, representing the defendants, sought bail for their clients. Jacobs, in turn, opposed the oral bail applications, insisting that formal written applications should be submitted.
Justice S. C. Iji, presiding over the case, adjourned the matter until October 3, 2024, for the hearing of the bail applications. Until then, Ishaku and Yero will remain in the custody of the EFCC as the court awaits further proceedings.
