The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended former Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, in connection with a N27 billion fraud case.
He is set to face trial on 15 charges, including criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, and public fund diversion.
According to a source close to the EFCC, Ishaku’s arrest is part of the commission’s ongoing efforts to address corruption within Nigeria’s public sector.
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The source confirmed that Ishaku is currently in EFCC custody and will be arraigned in court to answer the charges.
The alleged misconduct took place between 2015 and 2021, during Ishaku’s tenure as governor, and involves funds belonging to both the Taraba State Government and Local Government Councils.
Among the allegations are the diversion of N1.01 billion from the 2.5% contingency fund of the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State, between August 2015 and March 2016.
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Ishaku is also accused of misappropriating N1.138 billion from the same fund between July 2015 and May 2019 and diverting N193 million from the Donga Local Government Council.
Additional charges include the misappropriation of N650 million from the Gassol Local Government Council, N170 million from the Gashaka Local Government Council, and N201 million from the Ardo Kola Local Government Council.
Ishaku is further alleged to have used N3.348 billion from Local Government funds for personal purposes and diverted N639 million for his own use.
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Moreover, the former governor allegedly used N23 million of Taraba State funds to purchase a duplex in Abuja and applied N761 million to repay a loan for his company, Worthy Construction Limited.
Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s spokesperson, confirmed Ishaku’s arrest but declined to provide additional details.
The charges, seen by Saturday Vanguard, describe how Ishaku, while serving as governor, misappropriated public funds entrusted to him, including the misdirection of significant sums to personal and business interests.
Ishaku’s trial is expected to begin shortly, and if found guilty, he could face serious legal consequences for the alleged offenses.
