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EFCC Arraigns Ex-governor Ishaku of Taraba State, Perm Sec for Alleged N27b Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, September 30, 2024, arraigned former governor of Taraba State, Darius Dickson Ishaku and former permanent secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Bello Yero, before Justice S. C Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama,
Abuja for fraud.
Both are being prosecuted on a 15-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds in the state to the tune of N27, 000,000,000.00 (Twenty Seven Billion Naira).
One of the charges reads: “That you Darius Dickson Ishaku whilst being the governor of Taraba State and Bello Yero whilst being the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State between July, 2015 and May, 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N1, 138, 082, 097.71 (One Billion, One Hundred and Thirty-Eight Million, Eighty-Two Thousand, Ninety- Seven Naira, Seventy-One Kobo), which sum formed part of the 2.5% contingency fund belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when you dishonestly diverted the said sum to your own use and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under the same section.”
Another reads: “That you Darius Dickson Ishaku whilst being the governor of Taraba State and Bello Yero, whilst being the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State between July, 2015 and May, 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly misappropriated certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N1, 138, 082, 097.71 (One Billion, One Hundred and Thirty-Eight Million, Eighty-Two Thousand, Ninety-Seven Naira, Seventy-One Kobo, which sum formed part of the 2.5% contingency fund belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Act.”
They pled “not guilty” when all the charges were read to them, prompting prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN to ask the court for a trial date as well as accelerated hearing on the matter, while Paul Haris Ogbole, SAN and Oluwa Damilola Kayode, counsel to Ishaku and Yero respectively
made oral bail applications which
Jacobs opposed, insisting on formal applications.
Justice Oriji, adjourned the matter till Thursday, October 3, for hearing on bail applications and ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC’s custody. Both defendants were arrested on September 27, 2024.
Visit www.efcc.gov.ng for more stories
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Nigerian woman cries out after allegedly being brut@lised by her husband for ‘wearing singlet to take their children to school’
Nigerian woman cries out after allegedly being brut@lised by her husband for ‘wearing singlet to take their children to school’
In a Facebook post on Thursday, January 23, Kagbaranee Imeah posted photos of her bl0..0.d.ied and sw0.llen face, saying that her husband ass@ulted her simply because of her choice of outfit for school runs.
“This is what my husband did to me bcuz I wear singlet to take the children to school,” she wrote.
Abia State Government, through its Harmonized Taskforce, carried out an extensive enforcement operation in Aba, targeting street trading, illegal parking, road obstructions, and unauthorized loading and offloading of vehicles.
This decisive action, tagged “Operation Restore Absolute Sanity,” is to instill orderliness, cleanliness, and civility in the state.
The operation covered major junctions and roads, including Osisioma Junction, Tonimas, Enyimba, Double Pole, Ariaria Junction, and Park Road.
Traders and motorists who had encroached on public spaces and blocked drains were compelled to vacate these areas, as the taskforce dismantled illegal structures and cleared obstructions.
Led by Bob Wogu, the chairman of the Abia State Harmonized Taskforce, and joined by the Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Uzor Nwachukwu, the enforcement team showcased its resolve to restore sanity to the bustling commercial city.
Speaking during the exercise, Hon. Nwachukwu emphasized the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards activities that impede free movement and endanger public health and safety.
The taskforce had earlier issued warnings, urging residents and traders to voluntarily remove illegal structures and desist from trading on roads and gutters.
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Nigerian woman cries out after allegedly being brut@lised by her husband for ‘wearing singlet to take their children to school’
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