Former Taraba State governor Darius Ishaku faces 15 fraud charges following an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The indictment, presented at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, outlines alleged misappropriations totalling N27 billion.
The EFCC arrested Ishaku at his residence in Abuja on Friday. His co-defendant, Bello Yero, a former Permanent Secretary of the Taraba State Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, is also implicated.
According to court documents, the duo allegedly misappropriated state funds over several years.
The charges detail various alleged infractions. In the first two counts, Ishaku and Yero are accused of taking N1.10 billion between August 2015 and March 2016. The prosecution further alleges that the two diverted N1.1 billion for personal use.
In subsequent counts, they are charged with misappropriating N193 million between January 2019 and April 2021.
The EFCC also claims that N650 million and N170 million were diverted for personal use during the same period.
One of the most significant allegations is contained in counts 10 and 11, where the EFCC accuses the defendants of misappropriating N3.3 billion and an additional N639.4 million between 2019 and 2021.
In counts 14 and 15, Ishaku alone faces accusations of misappropriating N23 million and N761.3 million from 2016 to 2018.
The EFCC’s charges describe extensive financial mismanagement during Ishaku’s tenure as governor. Both defendants are expected to enter pleas at the next court hearing.
