The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, September 30, 2024, arraigned former Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, and former Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, on charges of fraud involving N27 billion.
The duo appeared before Justice S. C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, facing a 15-count charge.
These charges included criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and conversion of public funds.
One of the charges accused Ishaku and Yero of dishonestly diverting N1.1 billion from the 2.5% contingency fund belonging to the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, between July 2015 and May 2019.
The prosecution, led by Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, claimed that the funds were misappropriated while both men held public office.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges. Their counsel, Paul Haris Ogbole, SAN, and Oluwa Damilola Kayode, made oral applications for bail, which were opposed by the prosecution, who insisted on formal applications.
Justice Oriji adjourned the case to October 3, 2024, for a hearing on the bail applications and ordered that the defendants remain in EFCC custody. Both were arrested on September 27, 2024.
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