Darius Ishaku, former Governor of Taraba State, and Bello Yero, former Permanent Secretary of the State’s Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, have been charged with fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.
A 15-count indictment against both of them pertains to criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and the misappropriation of N27 billion in public monies.
One of the charges reads: “That you Darius Dickson Sshaku whilst being the governor of Taraba State and Bello Yero whilst being the permanent secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State between July 2015 and May 2019 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, 138, 082, 097.71 (one billion, one hundred and thirty-eight million, eighty-two thousand, ninety- seven naira, seventy-one kobo), which sum formed part of the 2.5% contingency fund 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.”
Another count reads: “That you Darius Dickson Sshaku whilst being the governor of Taraba State and Bello Yero, whilst being the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State between July 2015 and May 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, dishonestly misappropriated certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of n1, 138, 082, 097.71 (one billion, one hundred and thirty-eight million, eighty-two thousand, ninety-seven naira, seventy-one kobo, which sum formed part of the 2.5% contingency fund belonging to the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Act, CAP 532, laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under Section 309 of the same act.”
After all the charges were read to them, they entered a plea of “Not guilty.” This led Rotimi Jacobs, the prosecutor, to request an accelerated hearing and a trial date from the court. Paul Haris Ogbole, the attorney for Ishaku, and Oluwa Damilola Kayode, the attorney for Yero, made oral bail requests, which Jacobs rejected, arguing that formal applications were required.
Judge Oriji ordered that the defendants be held in the custody of the EFCC and postponed the case to Thursday, October 3, for a hearing on bail petitions. Sept. 27, 2024, saw the arrest of both defendants.
Meanwhile, a civil society organization, the Centre for Social and Economic Rights, CSER, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, IGP, to arrest former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, who has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for investigation related to corruption and abuse of office.
In the ongoing trial of Ali Bello, nephew of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, and others, a key prosecution witness, Jamilu Abdullahi, an Abuja-based Bureau De Change operator, provided detailed testimony on financial transactions involving the Kogi State government.
Abdullahi revealed that Yahaya Bello had repeatedly paid his three daughters’ school fees in dollars through him, using intermediaries.
In a statement issued by Nelson Ekujumi, the group’s executive director, CSER highlighted that Yahaya Bello had ignored an invitation from the anti-graft agency and called on the IGP to fulfill his legal duty.
