FCT Court Grants Former Taraba Governor Ishaku N150m Bail in Alleged N27b Fraud
By Juliet Vincent
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has granted bail of N150million and two Sureties in like sum to a former Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku on alleged involvement in a N27billion fraud.
The court, presided by Justice Sylvanus Oriji, Thursday also barred the former Governor from travelling out of the country except with permission of the court.
According to the court, the two Sureties must be residents in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with their house addresses verified by the registrar of the court with one of them a director with the Federal Civil Service.
Justice Oriji also barred the governor’s co-defendant, Bello Yero, from travelling out of the country except with permission of the court. Yero was Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Taraba State.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), arrested and detained the former for alleged involvement in a N27 billion fraud.
The EFCC, through its counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, did not oppose the bail request of the former governor stating that the Commission had granted the Ishaku administrative bail and he did not jump the bail.
Justice Oriji subsequently fixed November 4, 5 and 13, 2024 for the commencement of trial.Ishaku was Governor of Taraba State from May 2015 to May 2023 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He unsuccessfully contested for Taraba South Senatorial District in the 2023 election.
