Alleged N27bn fraud: EFCC files 15 charges against ex-Taraba Gov, Ishaku

• Recall the anti-graft agency had on Friday apprehended the former governor of Taraba State over an alleged fraud of N27bn

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has file a 15-count charge against former governor Darius Ishaku.

Recall the anti-graft agency had on Friday apprehended the former governor of Taraba State over an alleged fraud of N27bn.

Ishaku was reportedly picked up at his Abuja residence in the early hours of Friday.

Before the arrest, the charges against him were presented in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High court in Abuja on Thursday.

EFCC filed the indictment with 15 counts against Mr Ishaku and a co-defendant, a former Permanent Secretary of the Taraba State Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero.

In counts one and two, it is alleged that Ishaku and Yero improperly took a total of N1.10 billion from August 25, 2015, to March 21, 2016.

In counts three and four, the defendants were accused of having “dishonestly diverted” a total of N1.1 billion in state funds for their own personal benefit.

Count five pertains to the N193 million that the defendants are accused of misappropriating between January 2019 and April 2021.

In count six, it is alleged that N650 million was misappropriated between January 6, 2019, and April 29, 2021.

In count seven, it was alleged that the defendants misappropriated N170 million for their personal use between January 6, 2019, and April 29, 2021.

It was also alleged that they misappropriated N201.9 million from January 2019 to April 2021. Additionally, during the same period, the defendants were said to have diverted another N132.1 million.

In counts 10 and 11, it is alleged that the defendants misappropriated N3.3 billion and an additional N639.4 million during the period from July 19, 2019, to February 5, 2021.

Between September 30, 2016, and February 23, 2021, it is alleged that the former governor and Yero misappropriated N993 million as outlined in count 12.

Between May and December 2015, it is alleged that the defendants misappropriated N90 million.

Ishaku is the sole defendant responding to counts 14 and 15, which accuse him of allegedly misappropriating N23 million and N761.3 million from October 2016 to January 2018.