A former Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, on charges of diversion of about N27 billion from the state’s treasury while he was in office.
He was arraigned alongside a former Permanent Secretary of the state’s Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja.
According to a statement by the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, on Monday, both Messrs Ishaku and Yero pleaded not guilty to all the alleged 15 counts during their arraignment.
The statement aid the prosecution, led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Rotimi Jacobs, requested an expedited trial and urged the court to schedule an early hearing for the case.
However, the defence lawyers – Paul Haris Ogbole, SAN, representing Mr Ishaku, and Oluwadamilola Kayode, representing Mr Yero— made oral applications for the bail of their clients.
But Mr Jacobs urged the judge not to accept the defence lawyers’ oral bail applications, and insisted they must file written applications.
The trial judge, S.C Oriji, decided to adjourn the hearing of the defendants’ bail applications till Thursday. He ordered that the defendants remain in EFCC custody until then.
The two men were charged with misappropriating N27 billion allegedly diverted from the state’s treasury.
The EFCC arrested Mr Ishaku last Wednesday ahead of Monday’s arraignment.
