Nigeria – EFCC Arrests and Charge Former Taraba Governor, Darius Ishaku, To Court Over Alleged N27 Billion Fraud

Utebor Paul, Nigeria

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested and charged the former Governor of Taraba State, Darius Dickson Ishaku, to court over alleged involvement in a N27 billion fraud.

The arrest was confirmed by the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale,  yesterday.

Ishaku, who served as governor from 2015 to 2023, is facing a 15-count charge that includes criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds.

The alleged offences occurred during his tenure and involved funds belonging to the Taraba State Government and various local government councils in the state.

One of the key allegations is that Ishaku diverted N1.01 billion from the 2.5% contingency fund of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs between August 2015 and March 2016. He is also accused of using N3.348 billion from local government funds for personal gain and diverting another N639 million for his own use.

Further charges include the misappropriation of N1.138 billion from the same contingency fund between July 2015 and May 2019 and the diversion of N193 million from Donga Local Government Council funds.

Ishaku is also accused of criminal breach of trust involving N650 million from Gassol Local Government Council, N170 million from Gashaka Local Government Council, and N201 million from Ardo Kola Local Government Council.

Additionally, the EFCC alleged that the former governor purchased a duplex in Abuja with N23 million from Taraba State Government funds and used N761 million to repay a loan granted by Zenith Bank to his company, Worthy Construction Limited.