Crimes commission arraigns former Taraba state governor Ishaku for alleged N27 billion fraud

The former Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on charges of diversion of about N27 billion from the state’s treasury while he was in office.

Penpushing reports that Ishaku was arraigned on Monday alongside former Permanent Secretary of the state’s Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

The statement by Head Media and Publicity of the commission, Dele Oyewale, said the duo pleaded not guilty to all the alleged 15 counts during their arraignment, adding that the prosecution, led by, Rotimi Jacobs, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) requested an expedited trial and urged the court to schedule an early hearing for the case.

Penpushing further reports that the defence lawyers Paul Haris Ogbole,Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN), representing the former governor, and Oluwadamilola Kayode, representing former Permanent Secretary of the state’s Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs  made oral applications for the bail of their clients.

The prosecution lawyer, however, urged the judge not to accept the defence lawyers’ oral bail applications, and insisted they must file written applications, just as record showed that the commission alleged in charges that, at various times Ishaku, diverted billions of naira from the contingency funds.

Penpushing also reports that the commission added that the funds belong to the state’s Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs with certain local governments of the states into their private uses put at N27 billion.

The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants committed the offences of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation while Ishaku served as governor from 2015 to May 2023, at period when Yero was the Permanent Secretary of the state’s Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

Penpushing reports that the trial judge, Justice S.C Oriji, however, adjourn the hearing of the defendants’ bail applications till Thursday and ordered that the defendants remain in commission custody until then.

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