The Nigerian anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the former Governor of Taraba State, Darius Dickson Ishaku, on charges of misappropriating ₦27 billion in public funds. Ishaku, who served as governor from 2015 to 2023, faces 15 counts of criminal breach of trust and embezzlement involving state and local government funds.
According to the EFCC, Ishaku is alleged to have siphoned ₦1 billion from a local government contingency fund between August 2015 and March 2016. He also allegedly misappropriated ₦3.348 billion from local government council funds, diverted ₦639 million for personal use, and misused ₦761 million to pay off a loan for his construction company. Other charges include diverting ₦650 million from Gassol Local Government and ₦193 million from Donga Local Government.
Ishaku was taken into custody at his Abuja residence on the evening of Friday, September 27, and remains in EFCC detention while awaiting arraignment. He will face trial alongside Bello Yero, a former Permanent Secretary for Taraba State’s Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, who is also implicated in the case.
The EFCC’s investigation continues, with officials confirming that court proceedings will begin soon.
The arrest of Ishaku – a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) comes just days after the drama with wanted former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, who walked into the EFCC premises and walked away without being detained. The EFCC later made a scene at the Kogi Laison Office in Abuja where Bello reportedly passed the night, supposedly to arrest Bello. Mr. Bello of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) has managed to evade arrest so far.
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