High Court Grants Bail to Former Taraba Governor Darius Ishaku and Ex-Permanent Secretary Bello Yero

A Federal Capital Territory High Court has granted bail to former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku and Bello Yero, ex-Permanent Secretary at the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, in the sum of N150 million each.

Ishaku and Yero face a 15-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly diverting N1.138 billion from the 2.5% contingency fund of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Taraba State between July 2015 and May 2019.

The charges include:

– Criminal breach of trust

– Conspiracy

– Illegal conversion of public funds

Justice Oriji granted bail with conditions:

– Two sureties each, residing within the Federal Capital Territory

– One surety must be a director in the Federal Civil Service

– Defendants restricted from leaving the country without permission

The trial has been adjourned to November 4, 5, and 13. Notably, the EFCC did not oppose the bail request during Thursday’s proceedings.

Ishaku, who served as governor from May 2015 to May 2023 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Yero are accused of dishonestly diverting public funds for personal use.

The EFCC has requested an accelerated hearing of the case.