Former Taraba governor Darius Ishaku was granted N150 million bail in a N27 billion fraud case, with trial starting in November.

[dropcap]F[/dropcap]ormer Taraba governor Darius Ishaku was granted bail in a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja in connection with a N27 billion fraud case.

The court set bail at N150 million with two sureties, including a federal employee at director level. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accuses Ishaku and a co-defendant of diverting funds. Trial dates have been set for November.

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Former Taraba governor Darius Ishaku has been granted bail by a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja. The bail was set at N150 million in relation to a N27 billion fraud case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Sylvanus Oriji stipulated that the two sureties must include a federal government employee, holding the position of a director. Additionally, both sureties must reside in the FCT, with their residences verified by the Court Registrar.

The court further ordered Ishaku and his co-defendant, Bello Yero, not to leave the country without judicial approval.

The EFCC claims that the former governor and the ex-permanent secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs diverted public funds for personal use.

Ishaku, who left office in 2023, faces charges of criminal breach of trust and fraudulent diversion of over N3.3 billion.

The EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), acknowledged that Ishaku had been cooperative, as he did not breach his previous administrative bail.

As a result, the prosecution did not oppose the bail application. The court has set the trial to commence in November.

The anti-graft agency has accused Ishaku of several offences, including the illegal diversion of funds allocated to the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs between 2015 and 2021.

This case continues to attract national attention due to the sums involved and the high-profile nature of the defendants.