EFCC Arrests Former Taraba Governor Ishaku Over Alleged ₦27 Billion Fraud – Igbere TV

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested and detained former Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, on charges of involvement in a N27 billion fraud.

According to a reliable source, Ishaku will face trial on 15 charges including criminal breach of trust, misappropriation and misappropriation of public funds.

His arrest is part of the EFCC’s ongoing campaign to combat corruption and promote accountability in Nigeria’s public sector.

The allegations reflect serious efforts to address financial crimes involving public officials.

“Former Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, has been arrested for N27 billion fraud.

He will be charged with 15 charges and is in custody,” the source said.

The alleged offenses occurred between 2015 and 2021, during Ishaku’s tenure as governor, and involved funds belonging to the Taraba State Government and local government councils.

Specifically, Ishaku is accused of diverting an amount of N1.01 billion from 2.5% of the Taraba State Office of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Contingency Fund between August 2015 and March 2016.

Further allegations include misappropriation of N1.138 billion from the same contingency fund between July 2015 and May 2019 and diversion of N193 million from Donga Local Government Council funds.

Other charges include criminal breach of trust involving N650 million from Gassol Local Government Council, N170 million from Gashaka Local Government Council and N201 million from Ardo Kola Local Government Council.

Moreover, Ishaku allegedly used N3.348 billion of local government council funds for personal purposes and diverted N639 million for his own use.

The former governor is also accused of purchasing a duplex property in Abuja for N23 million with funds from the Taraba State Government and using the N761 million to repay a loan to his company, Worthy Construction Limited.

Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, confirmed the news but declined to comment further.

The case is expected to go to trial and Ishaku will face potential consequences for the alleged crimes.

The charge sheet, as seen by Saturday Vanguard, states in part: “That you, DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU, being the Governor of Taraba State and BELLO YERO, being the Permanent Secretary of the Office of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs of Taraba State, between August 25, 2015 and On the 21st day of March, 2016, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court and in that capacity, he was vested with power over certain properties, namely: the aggregate sum of N1,010,000,000 (One Billion and Ten Million Naira), which said sum formed part 2, 5% of the contingency funds belonging to the Taraba State Office of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, you committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you dishonestly allocated the said sum for your personal use and thereby committed an offense contrary to Art. 315 of the Criminal Code Act, chapter 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, 2007 and punishable under the same section.

“That you, DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU, being the Governor of Taraba State from September 3, 2015 to January 29, 2018 at Abuja, subject to the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court and in such capacity as vested in the control of certain property, namely: a collection sum N761,301,000 (Seven Hundred and Sixty One Million, Three Hundred and One Thousand Naira) which was part of the funds belonging to the Taraba State Government and Taraba State Local Government Councils and you hereby committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you dishonestly allocated the said sum to repay the One Billion Naira loan granted by Zenith Bank Plc. against your company, Worthy Construction Limited, and have thereby committed an offense contrary to section 315 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. 532, Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria Act, 2007 and punishable under the same section.”