A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Monday detained 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).
They were arrested on September 27 for allegedly diverting N27bn belonging to the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
According to the EFCC, they are accused of misappropriating N1,010,000,000 between August 2015 and March 2016 in Abuja. The amount in question was reportedly part of the Bureau’s 2.5 percent contingency funds.
The EFCC further alleged that the defendants diverted additional sums, including N650,686,369.99, N193,030,000, and N170,549,842 between January 2019 and April 2021. These allegations fall under Section 315 of the Penal Code A, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, which outlines severe penalties for offenses of this nature.
Upon their arraignment, both Ishaku and Yero pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), requested a trial date and sought an accelerated hearing.
Meanwhile, defense counsel Paul Haris Ogbole (SAN) and Oluwa Damilola Kayode made oral applications for bail, which Jacobs opposed, demanding formal applications instead.
Justice S. C. Iji subsequently adjourned the case until Thursday, October 3, for the hearing of bail applications and ordered the defendants to remain in EFCC custody until then.
