Former Taraba Governor Darius Ishaku Granted N150 Million Bail in N27 Billion Fraud Case

On Thursday, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court granted former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku bail of N150 million. The bail comes in response to the Federal Government’s charges against him for an alleged N27 billion fraud.

Justice Sylvanus Oriji presided over the case, setting the bail amount along with the condition that Ishaku must provide two sureties who will each be required to post the same amount. One of the sureties must be a Federal Government official with a Director-level position. The sureties must also be residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with their addresses verified by the Court’s Registrar.

Additionally, Justice Oriji ruled that Ishaku and his co-defendant, Bello Yero, are prohibited from leaving the country without the court's permission. Notably, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by Rotimi Jacobs, did not oppose the bail request, as Ishaku had previously been granted administrative bail by the EFCC.

The court scheduled the fraud trial to begin on November 4, 5, and 13.

Ishaku, who served as governor of Taraba State for eight years, was arraigned on fifteen counts by the EFCC but pleaded not guilty during the Monday arraignment. His co-defendant, Bello Yero, was the Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

According to the charge sheet, dated September 27, the EFCC accused the defendants of diverting N1,010,000,000 between August 25, 2015, and March 21, 2016, for their personal use. This sum was allegedly part of the 2.5% contingency reserves that belonged to the Chieftaincy Affairs and Local Government Bureau.

Further charges claim that between July 2015 and May 2019, the defendants misappropriated a total of N1,138,082,097.71, which was also part of the Bureau of Local Government’s 2.5% contingency fund. Another N761,301,000 was allegedly misappropriated between September 2015 and January 2018 to repay a N1 billion loan from Zenith Bank Plc for a construction company associated with Ishaku.

The Penal Code of Nigeria, Section 315 of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria Laws (2007), was cited in the charge sheet, indicating that the defendants' actions constitute a criminal breach of trust.

Other sums allegedly misappropriated include N650,686,369.99 between January 6, 2019, and April 29, 2021, and additional funds amounting to N193,030,000 and N170,549,842, which were also part of the contingency fund.