The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has formally charged the former Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, fifteen counts of financial crimes, including criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, and embezzlement of public funds.
EFCC operatives arrested Ishaku in the early hours of Friday, September 27, 2024, from his residence in Abuja. The charges stem from the alleged mismanagement of ₦27 billion in state and local government funds during his tenure as governor from 2015 to 2021.
Among the accusations, Ishaku is said to have siphoned ₦1.01 billion from the 2.5% reserve fund of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, between August 2015 and March 2016. Additionally, he allegedly misused ₦3.348 billion from the funds of local government councils for personal benefit and took ₦639 million for his use.
Other serious accusations include the theft of ₦1.138 billion from the same reserve fund between July 2015 and May 2019. Furthermore, Ishaku is alleged to have stolen ₦193 million from the Donga Local Government Council’s funds, ₦650 million from the Gassol Local Government Council, ₦170 million from the Gashaka Local Government Council, and ₦201 million from Ardo Kola Local Government Council.
One notable change involves using state funds to purchase a duplex in Abuja and a diversion of ₦761 million to repay a loan for his company, Worthy Construction Limited.
Darius Ishaku Faces 15-Count Charge
The EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the charges based on an investigation that uncovered a pattern of fraudulent activities involving public funds. The detailed charge sheet outlines the scope of the former governor’s alleged crimes, including diversion funds for public use for personal enrichment.
One part of the charge sheet reads: “That you, DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU, while being the Governor of Taraba State, between 25th August 2015 and 21st March 2016 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, entrusted with dominion over certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of ₦1,010,000,000 (One Billion and Ten Million Naira), which sum formed part of the 2.5% contingency funds belonging to the 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 use.”
Ishaku is set to face trial in the coming days as the EFCC pushes for accountability and justice in what is seen as one of the more significant corruption cases in recent times.
