BREAKING: A Court Sets N150 Million Bail or Former Taraba Governor Darius Ishaku.

Former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku was granted bail on Thursday in the amount of N150 million by a High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in connection with an alleged fraud charge totaling N27 billion brought against him by the Federal Government. The bail was approved by Justice Sylvanus Oriji, who stipulated that two sureties must be provided, each also valued at N150 million. One of these sureties is required to be a Federal Government employee at the Director level. Additionally, both sureties must reside in the FCT, and their residential addresses will be subject to verification by the Court Registrar. Justice Oriji also imposed a travel restriction on Ishaku and his co-defendant, Bello Hero, prohibiting them from leaving the country without prior court approval. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by counsel Rotimi Jacobs, did not contest the bail application. Jacobs indicated that the EFCC had previously granted Ishaku administrative bail, which he adhered to. Following the bail approval, Justice Oriji scheduled the trial to commence on November 4, 5, and 13 regarding the alleged fraud. Ishaku, who completed his eight-year tenure as governor in 2023, faces 15 counts brought by the EFCC but has pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Monday. The charge sheet, dated September 27, identifies Ishaku and the former Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, as the defendants. The EFCC alleges that between August 25, 2015, and March 21, 2016, the defendants misappropriated N1,010,000,000 for personal use in Abuja. The agency indicated that the specified amount was included in the 2.5 percent contingency funds allocated to the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. The EFCC observed that the two individuals violated Section 315 of the Penal Code A, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007, which prescribes penalties for such offenses. Ishaku and Yero faced allegations of misappropriating a total of N1,138,082,097.71, which was part of the 2.5 percent contingency fund belonging to the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs during the period from July 2015 to May 2019. Additionally, between September 3, 2015, and January 29, 2018, in Abuja, the defendants were charged with the misappropriation of N761,301,000 intended to cover a loan of N1 billion provided by Zenith Bank Plc. to their company, Worthy Construction Limited. The charge sheet stated, “Ishaku, while serving as the Governor of Taraba State, and Bello Yero, while acting as the Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, between July 19, 2019, and February 5, 2021, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, were entrusted with control over certain property, specifically an aggregate sum of N3,348,942,411.15, which was part of the funds belonging to the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, and the Local Government Councils in Taraba State. In doing so, they committed a criminal breach of trust by dishonestly diverting the aforementioned sum for their personal use.” Other amounts allegedly misappropriated from the contingency fund by the defendants include N650,686,369.99 between January 6, 2019, and April 29, 2021; N193,030,000 between January 2019 and April 29, 2021; and N170,549,842.00 between January 6, 2019, and April 29, 2021, among others.