EFCC arraigns former Taraba Gov. Ishaku, perm sec. for alleged N24b fraud

Darius Dickson Ishaku, former governor of Taraba State, was on Monday, September 30, arraigned before Justice S.C. Oriji at the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja, over the alleged misappropriation of N27 billion in state funds.

Ishaku, along with Bello Yero, the former Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, is facing a 15-count charge for criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and the conversion of public funds.

The EFCC accused Ishaku and Yero of diverting N1,138,082,097.71 from the 2.5% contingency fund belonging to the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, between July 2015 and May 2019.

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The charges include dishonestly misappropriating the said sum, contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the FCT of Nigeria 2007.

Ishaku & Yero pleaded not guilty to all charges & Justice Oriji adjourned the matter till Thursday, October 3, for hearing on bail applications and ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC custody.