EFCC Files 15 Charges Against Former Taraba Governor Darius Ishaku

EFCC Files 15 Charges Against Former Taraba Governor Darius Ishaku....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed at least 15 charges against Darius Ishaku, the former Governor of Taraba State…….CONTINUE READING 

According to Naija News, the ex-governor was arrested by the anti-corruption agency at his residence in Abuja during the early hours of Friday, September 27. Ishaku faces charges related to a ₦27 billion fraud case, with the EFCC accusing him of multiple offenses, including criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, and embezzlement of public funds.

The alleged crimes took place between 2015 and 2021, while Ishaku was in office. He is accused of diverting state and local government funds for personal use. Among the charges, Ishaku is alleged to have siphoned ₦1.01 billion from the 2.5% reserve fund of the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, between August 2015 and March 2016. Additionally, he is said to have misappropriated ₦3.348 billion from local government funds and taken ₦639 million for personal use.

Further accusations include stealing ₦1.138 billion from the reserve fund between July 2015 and May 2019, as well as misappropriating ₦193 million from the Donga Local Government Council’s funds. Other charges involve the theft of ₦650 million from Gassol Local Government Council, ₦170 million from Gashaka Local Government Council, and ₦201 million from Ardo Kola Local Government Council.

Ishaku is also accused of purchasing a duplex in Abuja with state funds and using ₦761 million to repay a loan for his company, Worthy Construction Limited.

The EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed these charges. The charge sheet reads: “That you, DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU, while being the Governor of Taraba State and BELLO YERO, while being the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, between 25th August 2015 and 21st March 2016 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 N1,010,000,000 (One Billion and Ten Million Naira), which sum formed part of the 2.5% contingency funds 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…”

The former governor is now set to stand trial for these offenses under the relevant sections of the Penal Code Act.