The financial scandal engulfing former Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, has taken an unexpected turn with his arraignment in court. Accused of embezzling no less than N27 billion of state funds, Ishaku, alongside former Permanent Secretary of the Office of Local Government and Chieftaincy, Bello Yero, now faces some 15 charges including breach of trust, conspiracy and misappropriation of public funds. According to the anti-graft agency EFCC, Ishaku and Yero allegedly siphoned off N1.138 billion from the 2.5% contingency fund belonging to the Taraba State Chieftaincy and Local Government Affairs Office between July 2015 and May 2019. The charges, which were categorized as embezzlement under Section 308 of the Penal Code, were vigorously denied by the accused when they pleaded not guilty.
The trial is shaping up to be a hard-fought one, with prosecutor Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, seeking an expeditious trial date. Defence counsel, Paul Harris Ogbole, SAN, and Oluwa Kayode, filed an oral bail application, which was quickly contested by Jacobs who insisted on formal motions.
In an unexpected turn of events, Justice Oriji ordered that the accused be remanded in EFCC custody pending the hearing of their bail applications on October 3.
This turn of events highlights the challenges of the fight against corruption in Nigeria, and underscores the critical importance of accountability in the exercise of public office. Watch this space.