The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Darius Ishaku, the former governor of Taraba State, over allegations of financial fraud. The accusations revolve around sums reportedly as high as N27 billion, though some reports suggest the figure may be closer to N9.3 billion.
Ishaku, who governed Taraba State from 2015 to 2023, was arraigned on 15 charges late Friday, September 27, 2024. The charges stem from alleged financial mismanagement during his time in office.
Months prior, the EFCC had invited Ishaku for questioning regarding suspected irregularities involving funds linked to his administration. According to the anti-graft agency, the ex-governor, along with Bello Yero, the former permanent secretary of the state’s Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, allegedly diverted large sums of money meant for government projects.
Court documents reveal that Ishaku and Yero are accused of unlawfully diverting N1.01 billion between August 2015 and March 2016. Another N1.13 billion, allegedly siphoned off between July 2015 and May 2019, was also mentioned by the EFCC. These funds were reportedly part of a 2.5% contingency allocation meant for the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
One specific charge claims that Ishaku and Yero used N761 million from the government’s coffers to repay a loan from Zenith Bank granted to a company named Worthy Construction Limited. Other charges involve the diversion of over N3.3 billion between July 2019 and February 2021.
The EFCC has charged the two under Section 315 of the Penal Code, which addresses criminal breach of trust. Ishaku and Yero have since been released on bail, but the charges against them could carry significant penalties if they are found guilty.
This is not the first time the EFCC has focused on financial irregularities in Taraba State. In 2016, two state officials were arraigned for allegedly diverting N13.6 million intended for flood relief.
As the case unfolds, the EFCC continues its efforts to hold public officials accountable for financial misconduct during their time in office.
