THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested and detained a former Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, for alleged involvement in a N27 billion fraud.
The former governor will face trial on 15 counts, including criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds.
The alleged offences occurred between 2015 and 2021 during Ishaku’s tenure as governor, involving funds belonging to the Taraba State Government and local government councils.
Specifically, Ishaku is accused of diverting 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.
Ishaku also allegedly used N3.348 billion from local government councils’ funds for personal gain and diverted N639 million for his own use.
Further allegations 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.
Other charges include 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.
The former governor is also accused of buying a duplex property in Abuja with N23 million from Taraba State Government funds and using N761 million to repay a loan for his company, Worthy Construction Limited.
The spokesman for the Comission, Dele Oyewale, has confirmed the development.
