EFCC Detains Ex-Taraba Governor Darius Ishaku For Alleged N9.3bn Fraud

EFCC Detains Ex-Taraba Governor Darius Ishaku For Alleged N9.3bn FraudThe Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku in connection with an alleged N9.3 billion fraud.

Sources report that Ishaku is currently being held at the EFCC’s Abuja office. While EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed the arrest, further details were not disclosed.

Ishaku is facing a 15-count charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja. He will be arraigned alongside Bello Yero, the former permanent secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. The charges include allegations of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of state funds, in violation of Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007.

Among the key accusations are the alleged misappropriation of N1.1 billion from the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs’ 2.5% contingency funds between August 2015 and March 2016, as well as the diversion of N1.1 billion in state funds for personal use. Other alleged misappropriations include N193 million, N650 million, and N170 million, all reportedly diverted between January 2019 and April 2021.

Additionally, Ishaku is accused of diverting N3.3 billion and N639.4 million between July 2019 and February 2021. There are further allegations of the diversion of N993 million and N90 million over several instances from 2015 to 2021. Notably, Ishaku faces charges of diverting N23 million and N761.3 million between October 2016 and January 2018.

Ishaku, who served as Taraba State governor from 2015 to 2023, had previously been invited by the EFCC in July 2023 for questioning regarding financial matters from his tenure. He was released on bail after that initial questioning.