By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama on Thursday granted bail to former Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, in the sum of N150 million.

Also granted bail for the same amount was Bello Yero, a former Permanent Secretary at the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Taraba State. Both Ishaku and Yero are standing trial for their alleged involvement in a N27 billion fraud case.

The two defendants are facing a 15-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which accuses them of criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and illegal conversion of public funds.

At their arraignment on Monday, both men pleaded not guilty to the charges and requested bail, pending the hearing and determination of the case. Their lawyers, Paul Ogbole, SAN, and Oluwa Kayode, made oral applications for bail.

However, the EFCC’s lead counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, opposed the bail request, insisting the defense must file a formal application to allow him to respond appropriately.

During Thursday’s proceedings, Justice Oriji granted bail after the prosecution did not oppose the request. The court ordered both defendants to provide two sureties each, who must reside within the Federal Capital Territory.

The trial has been adjourned to November 4.

Ishaku and Yero were arrested by the EFCC on September 27 in connection with the alleged diversion of N1.138 billion from the 2.5% contingency fund belonging to the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Taraba State. The charges against them include:

“That you, Darius Dickson Ishaku, while being Governor of Taraba State, and you, Bello Yero, while being Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, between July 2015 and May 2019, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly diverted an aggregate sum of N1,138,082,097.71, which formed part of the contingency fund of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, to your personal use, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act and punishable under the same Section.”

The EFCC has requested an accelerated hearing of the case.