EFCC Unveils 15 Charges Against Ex-Governor Darius Ishaku in Major Fraud Investigation

Former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku is facing 15 serious charges brought forward by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with an alleged N27 billion fraud. The EFCC arrested the former governor at his Abuja residence early Friday morning.

The charges, which were submitted at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja on Thursday, also involve a co-defendant, Bello Yero, a former Permanent Secretary of the Taraba State Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

According to the EFCC, Ishaku and Yero are accused of misappropriating and diverting public funds for personal gain over several years. The breakdown of the charges includes the alleged illegal withdrawal of N1.10 billion between August 2015 and March 2016 (counts one and two) and the dishonest diversion of another N1.1 billion during the same period (counts three and four).

Further charges detail the alleged misappropriation of N193 million from January 2019 to April 2021 (count five) and N650 million between January 2019 and April 2021 (count six). Counts seven and eight accuse the pair of diverting N170 million and N201.9 million, respectively, over the same period.

Other notable charges include the alleged misappropriation of N3.3 billion and N639.4 million between July 2019 and February 2021 (counts 10 and 11), as well as N993 million between September 2016 and February 2021 (count 12). Additional sums, including N90 million misappropriated in 2015 and N23 million between 2016 and 2018, are also part of the indictment.

While both defendants face the bulk of the charges, Ishaku alone is charged in counts 14 and 15, which pertain to the alleged diversion of N761.3 million from October 2016 to January 2018.