Ex-Taraba governor secures N150 million bail in alleged N27 billion embezzlement case

The two were brought before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Monday, September 30, 2024.

They are facing a 15-count charge that includes criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and the conversion of public funds.

One of the charges accuses the former governor and the permanent secretary of diverting over N1.1 billion from the 2.5% contingency fund for the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs between 2015 and 2019. The funds were allegedly misused for personal gain, violating Section 315 of the Penal Code Act.

According to the EFCC, Darius Dickson Ishaku, while serving as the governor of Taraba State, and Bello Yero, while serving as the Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, dishonestly misappropriated property amounting to approximately N1.14 billion, among other offenses, between July 2015 and May 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Court.

One of the charges reads: “That you, Darius Dickson Ishaku, while being the governor of Taraba State, and Bello Yero, while being the Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, between July 2015 and May 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N1,138,082,097.71 (One Billion, One Hundred and Thirty-Eight Million, Eighty-Two Thousand, Ninety-Seven Naira, Seventy-One Kobo), which sum formed part of the 2.5% contingency fund belonging to the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when you dishonestly diverted the said sum to your own use. You thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007, and punishable under the same section.”