A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama has granted former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku bail set at N150 million as he faces serious corruption charges.
Ishaku, alongside Bello Yero, the former permanent secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, was arraigned on Monday on a 15-count charge including criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and the conversion of public funds.
Both defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were presented in court.
During a session on Thursday, their legal teams moved for bail applications. Prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs indicated he would not oppose the applications, noting that the defendants had previously been granted administrative bail.
Presiding Judge Sylvanus Oriji subsequently approved the bail request, stipulating that each defendant must secure two sureties of equal value.
These sureties must be reputable Nigerian citizens residing in the FCT, with verifiable addresses and positions.
Notably, one surety for each defendant must hold a director-level position in the civil service.
In addition to these requirements, the court imposed restrictions on the defendants’ travel.
Ishaku and Yero are prohibited from leaving the country without prior court approval, and they must surrender their travel documents to the court.
Darius Ishaku, 70, who served as Taraba’s governor from 2015 to 2023, has been under scrutiny since July 2023, when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) invited him to clarify several financial transactions from his time in office.
After his initial release on bail, both Ishaku and Yero were arrested and detained by the EFCC on September 27, 2024.
This ongoing case highlights significant concerns over public fund management and governance in Nigeria, raising questions about accountability among former state officials.
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