A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has ordered the remand of former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku and former Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The pair was arrested on September 27, 2023, for their alleged involvement in the diversion of N27 billion from the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
In the case marked CR/792/24, filed with the court, the EFCC claims the defendants misappropriated N1,010,000,000 for personal use between August 25, 2015, and March 21, 2016, within Abuja. This amount is reportedly part of the 2.5% contingency funds allocated to the Bureau.
The EFCC highlighted that the actions of Ishaku and Yero contravened Section 315 of the Penal Code A, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007, which carries penalties for such offenses. Additional sums purportedly misappropriated include N650,686,369.99 from January 6, 2019, to April 29, 2021; N193,030,000 during the same period; and N170,549,842.00.
Following their arraignment, both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. The prosecution has requested a trial date and expedited proceedings. Counsel for the defendants made oral bail requests, which the prosecution contested, seeking formal applications instead. The trial judge has adjourned the hearing on bail applications to Thursday, October 3, while the defendants remain in EFCC custody.
