ABUJA – Former Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, and Bello Yero, a former Permanent Secretary at the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, have both been granted bail in the sum of N150 million by a High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama. The bail was granted on Thursday as the two face trial over their alleged involvement in a N27 billion fraud case.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged Ishaku and Yero with a 15-count indictment that includes criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and the illegal conversion of public funds. Both men are accused of siphoning N1.138 billion from the contingency fund belonging to the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Taraba State between 2015 and 2019.
During their arraignment earlier in the week, both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their defense counsel, Paul Ogbole, SAN, and Oluwa Kayode, made an oral application for bail, arguing that their clients were not flight risks and would be available for trial. However, EFCC lead prosecutor Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, initially opposed the bail request, insisting that a formal application be filed to enable a proper response from the prosecution.
In Thursday’s proceedings, the EFCC no longer opposed the bail application, prompting Justice Oriji to grant bail to the defendants. The court ordered both Ishaku and Yero to provide two sureties each, with the stipulation that the sureties must reside within the Federal Capital Territory. The bail conditions are set at N150 million for each defendant.
The trial, which has been adjourned to November 4, centers on allegations that Ishaku and Yero dishonestly diverted public funds for personal use during their tenure in Taraba State. Specifically, the EFCC accuses them of misappropriating N1.138 billion from a contingency fund meant for local government administration.
The court documents reveal that between July 2015 and May 2019, the defendants allegedly engaged in the diversion of public funds from the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Taraba State. One of the charges against them reads:
“That you, Darius Dickson Ishaku, while being Governor of Taraba State, and you, Bello Yero, while being Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, dishonestly diverted an aggregate sum of N1,138,082,097.71, which formed part of the contingency fund, to your personal use, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act and punishable under the same Section.”
The EFCC has also requested an accelerated hearing to expedite the trial, given the magnitude of the alleged fraud and the public interest in ensuring transparency and accountability in governance.
Both Ishaku and Yero were arrested by the EFCC on September 27, in connection with the case. Their arrest came after an investigation into the alleged fraudulent activities during Ishaku’s tenure as governor of Taraba State.
The charges against the two have raised significant public interest, as the case is seen as part of the broader efforts by the EFCC to clamp down on corruption and misuse of public funds in Nigeria. While both defendants maintain their innocence, the trial is expected to shed light on the financial mismanagement allegations that have dogged the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs during their time in office.
As the legal proceedings move forward, all eyes will be on the courtroom come November 4, when the trial is set to resume, to determine the outcome of this high-profile case.
