The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Darius Ishaku, the former governor of Taraba State, and Bello Yero, the former Permanent Secretary of the state’s Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, on charges of fraud.
The two were brought before Justice Sylvanus Oriji at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
Ishaku and Yero are facing a 15-count charge that includes allegations of criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and the misappropriation of N27 billion in public funds.
According to the EFCC, the charges stemmed from their time in office between July 2015 and May 2019.
One charge accuses the pair of dishonestly diverting over N1.13 billion from a 2.5% contingency fund belonging to the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The prosecution claims that the funds were illegally converted for personal use, violating sections of the Penal Code.
Both Ishaku and Yero pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court adjourned the case until October 3, 2024, to hear bail applications.
Meanwhile, the court ordered the defendants to remain in EFCC custody until then.
