Ex-Taraba Governor Darius Ishaku Arrested Over Alleged N27bn Fraud

Darius Ishaku, the former governor of Taraba State, is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged involvement in a N27 billion fraud scheme. Ishaku, who governed Taraba State from 2015 to 2023, was arrested at his Abuja residence on Friday.

According to a top EFCC source, Ishaku will face 15 charges, including diverting N1.01 billion from the 2.5% contingency funds of the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs between August 2015 and March 2016. The EFCC accused Ishaku and former Permanent Secretary Bello Yero of committing an offense contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code.

The charge sheet, dated September 27, lists Ishaku and Yero as defendants in suit CR/792/24 before a Federal Capital Territory High Court. They allegedly diverted N1.138 billion from the contingency fund between July 2015 and May 2019 and N761.3 million to repay a N1 billion loan from Zenith Bank.

Ishaku and Yero were also accused of diverting N3.348 billion, N650.686 million, N193.03 million, and N170.549 million from the contingency fund between 2019 and 2021. The EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, confirmed Ishaku’s arrest but declined further comment.

This development comes amidst an ongoing face-off between the EFCC and former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello, accused of stealing N80.2 billion.

The case against Ishaku and Yero is pending, with the EFCC set to arraign them soon.