[Breaking] ₦27 Billion Fraud Case: Ex-Taraba Governor, Ishaku Gets ₦150 Million Bail

Former Taraba State governor, Darius Ishaku, was on Thursday granted bail in the sum of N150 million by a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.

This decision comes amid serious allegations of a ₦27 billion fraud charge brought against him by the Federal Government.

Justice Sylvanus Oriji granted the bail, requiring Ishaku to present two sureties, each also valued at ₦150 million. One of the sureties must hold a position as a Federal Government employee at the rank of Director.

Additionally, both sureties are required to reside in the FCT, with their residential addresses subject to verification by the court’s registrar.

During the proceedings, Justice Oriji imposed a travel restriction on Ishaku and his co-defendant, Bello Hero, barring them from leaving the country without court permission.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by counsel Rotimi Jacobs, did not oppose the bail application, noting that Ishaku had previously been granted administrative bail by the agency without any infractions.

After granting the bail, Justice Oriji scheduled the commencement of the trial for November 4, 5, and 13. Ishaku, who served as governor for eight years before leaving office in 2023, faces 15 counts of fraud but pleaded not guilty when arraigned on Monday.

The EFCC’s charge sheet, dated September 27, accuses Ishaku and the former Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, of diverting ₦1,010,000,000 for personal use between August 25, 2015, and March 21, 2016. This amount is reported to be part of the 2.5 percent contingency funds allocated to the Bureau.

The agency further alleges that the defendants diverted an aggregate sum of ₦1,138,082,097.71 from the same contingency fund between July 2015 and May 2019.

Additionally, they are accused of misappropriating N761,301,000 to repay a loan of ₦1 billion from Zenith Bank Plc. granted to their company, Worthy Construction Limited, between September 3, 2015, and January 29, 2018.

“That you Ishaku whilst being the Governor of Taraba State and Bello Yero whilst being the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State between July 19, 2019 and February 5, 2021 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of ₦3,348,942,411.15, which sum formed part of the funds belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State and Local Government Councils in Taraba State, and you thereby committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when you dishonestly diverted the said sum to your own use,” the charge sheet partly read.

Other sums that allegedly formed part of the contingency fund diverted by the defendants include ₦650,686,369.99 between January 6, 2019, and April 29, 2021; ₦193,030,000 between January 2019 and April 29, 2021; and ₦170,549,842.00 between January 6, 2019, and April 29, 2021, among others.

Breaking: ASUU suspends 2-week warning strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has suspended its two-week warning strike it declared last week across all public universities in the country. The union announced the suspension on Wednesday at a press conference held at its headquarters in Abuja. President of ASUU, Chris Piwuna, who read a prepared speech before newsmen, explained that the development followed intervention by the Senate and some other well-meaning Nigerians. However, he sad the National Executive Council of the Union resolved to give the government a one-month window to address all contending areas.

JUST IN: If Tinubu Had Told Me, I Wouldn’t Have Agreed To Rivers State Of Emergency Rule – Wike

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Woman Burned to Death, Accused of Kidnapping 7yrs Old Boy in Delta

By Tessy ogbemi An angry mob set ablaze a woman accused in a failed child kidnapping attempt in Agbarho community, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. The incident happened on Wednesday, September 24, 2025. An eyewitness disclosed at the scene of the incident at Ekwvere Road claimed that the woman hid the seven year old boy she allegedly abducted in a sack, adding that she was even carrying a Bible on one hand. Community sources said some residents in the area accosted the lady when they observed the way she was dragging the sack, to know what she had in it. "She was unstable when they asked her to disclose what she was carrying in the sack. When the bag was forced open, they found a seven year old child in it. They shouted and it attracted a large crowd,” a source said. It was gathered that the angry mob immediately brought a used tyre to the scene, which they forced down her neck after beating her to a pulp. “The lady and the tyre we...

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