Former governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, is facing trial on 15 counts, including criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds, which allegedly occurred between 2015 and 2021 during his tenure.
Ishaku is accused of diverting N1.01 billion from the 2.5% contingency fund of the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, between August 2015 and March 2016.
Additionally, he allegedly used N3.348 billion from local government councils’ funds for personal gain and diverted N639 million for his own use.
The former governor also allegedly misappropriated N1.138 billion from the same contingency fund between July 2015 and May 2019 and diverted N193 million from Donga Local Government Council funds.
Further allegations include criminal breach of trust involving funds from Gassol, Gashaka, and Ardo Kola Local Government Councils.
Ishaku is also accused of using Taraba State Government funds to purchase a duplex property in Abuja for N23 million and repaying a loan of N761 million for his company, Worthy Construction Limited.
The spokesman for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Dele Oyewale confirmed these developments.
Ishaku will be arraigned alongside Bello Yero, former permanent secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The charge sheet reads in part:
“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 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under the same Section.
“That you, DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU, while being the Governor of Taraba State between 3rd September 2015 and 29th January 2018 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 N761,301,000 (Seven Hundred and Sixty-One Million, Three Hundred and One Thousand Naira), which sum formed part of the funds belonging to Taraba State Government and Local Government Councils in Taraba State, and you hereby committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when you dishonestly diverted the said sum to defray the loan of One Billion Naira granted by Zenith Bank Plc. To your company, Worthy Construction Limited, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under the same section.”
