By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has explained how former governor of Taraba, Darius Dickson Ishaku and Bello Yero, a former permanent secretary allegedly looted the sum of N27 billion belonging to the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state.
Ishaku was governor of Taraba from 2015 to 2023 while Yero was former permanent secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state.
Both defendants were arrested on September 27, 2024 by operatives of the anti-graft agency.
They were arraigned before Justice S. C Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja on Monday on a 15-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds to the tune of N27, 000,000,000.00 (Twenty Seven Billion Naira).
The anti-graft agency, in one of the charges alleged that Ishaku and between July, 2015 and May, 2019 diverted the 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 was part of the 2.5% contingency fund belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to their own use.
In another charge, the EFCC alleged that Ishaku and Yero between July, 2015 and May, 2019 dishonestly misappropriated an ggregate 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 Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State.
Hpwever, Ishaku and Yero pleaded “not guilty” when all the charges were read to them on Monday.
This prompted the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN to ask the court for a trial date as well as accelerated hearing of the matter, while Paul Haris Ogbole, SAN and Oluwa Damilola 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 hearing on bail applications and ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC’s custody.
Read details of the two charges below
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 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.”
Another count 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, dishonestly misappropriated 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 Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Act.”