EFCC Misses Annual Report Deadline, Arraigns Taraba Ex-gov, Ishaku

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to submit its annual report to the Senate as stipulated by law on Monday.

The EFCC was expected to release the much-anticipated annual report to the National Assembly but failed to do so.

As of press time, yesterday, the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, would not confirm the release of the report or situation of things.

All enquiries made through calls to the EFCC spokesperson from 10am were not returned.

At about 2:55 p.m., LEADERSHIP correspondent called the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, and even sent messages through WhatsApp. Still, he would not reply, reveal the report’s contents, or even confirm the presentation.

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A check on the EFCC website showed that the last annual report released by the anti-graft agency was in 2021.

Meanwhile, the EFCC has arraigned former governor of Taraba State, Darius Dickson Ishaku and former permanent secretary of Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Bello Yero, before Justice S. C Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja for fraud.

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said both are being prosecuted on a 15-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds in the state to N27, 000,000,000.00.

One of the charges read: “That you, Darius Dickson 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 2015 and May 2019 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 N1, 138, 082, 097.71, which sum formed part of the 2.5 per cent contingency fund belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State and you committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, when you dishonestly diverted the said sum to your use and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under the same section.”

Another charge read: “That you, Darius Dickson 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 2015 and May 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly misappropriated certain property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N1, 138, 082, 097.71, which sum formed part of the 2.5 per cent contingency fund belonging to Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taraba State and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria 2007 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Act.”

When all the charges were read to them, they pled “not guilty,” prompting prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs to ask the court for a trial date and an accelerated hearing. Meanwhile, Paul Haris Ogbole and Oluwa Damilola Kayode, counsel to Ishaku and Yero, respectively, made oral bail applications, which Jacobs opposed, insisting on formal applications.

Justice Oriji adjourned the matter till Thursday, October 3, for a hearing on bail applications and ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC’s custody. Both defendants were arrested on September 27, 2024.