A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama has granted bail to Darius Ishaku, former governor of Taraba State, in the sum of N150 million. Ishaku is facing a 15-count charge alongside Bello Yero, a former permanent secretary in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charges include criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and illegal conversion of public funds.
During their arraignment, both Ishaku and Yero pleaded not guilty and sought bail. Their lawyers, Paul Ogbole, SAN, and Oluwa Kayode, made oral bail applications. However, the EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, argued that a formal bail application was necessary.
Despite the initial opposition, the court, presided over by Justice Oriji, granted bail to the defendants. The EFCC did not contest the bail, with Jacobs confirming that the ex-governor had previously been granted administrative bail by the agency and had not violated its conditions.
As part of the bail conditions, both men are required to provide two sureties each, who must reside within the Federal Capital Territory. They are also prohibited from leaving the country without the court's permission. The court has scheduled the trial to commence on November 4, 5, and 13.
Ishaku and Yero were arrested by the EFCC on September 27 in connection with the alleged diversion of over N1.13 billion from the contingency fund of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Taraba State, during Ishaku’s tenure as governor from 2015 to 2023.
According to the charges, the defendants allegedly diverted funds between July 2015 and May 2019, a violation of Section 315 of the Penal Code Act.
