KEY POINTS
- Ex-Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State and a former official have been remanded over allegations of ₦27 billion fraud.
- The charges include embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds during Ishaku’s tenure as governor.
- The case underscores ongoing efforts to tackle corruption among Nigerian political elites.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has charged Darius Ishaku, a former governor of Taraba State, to court for alleged embezzlement of ₦27 billion in public fund. T
he former governor was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and a former high ranking official of his administration for alleged embezzlement and other forms of corruption in the management of the state’s resources.
The allegations against Ishaku arise from probes into the state’s financial management while he was in power. The prosecutors have accused the former governor and his associate of embezzling billions of naira through contracts and other fraudulent activities meant to steal public funds.
Charges of misuse of funds
The case is a part of a large-scale fight against corruption in Nigeria, and the authorities are concerned with the political elites of the states who are charged with embezzlement of state funds.
As reported by Tribune Online, the EFCC investigation of Ishaku’s administration discovered that several major projects financed by the state were fraudulent.
These irregularities were said to have accorded the accused an opportunity to embezzle a lot of money through over-exaggerated contracts and bribes.
The prosecution in court explained how the money meant for development projects in Taraba State was embezzled and most of the money was channeled to personal accounts. Ishaku and his co-accused are standing trial for fraud, conspiracy and criminal breach of trust charges.
This is reason the remanding of Ishaku is viewed as a major anti-corruption campaign achievement in Nigeria. The former governor, who was in office for two terms, had been under probe for several months before he was arrested.
His case is a clear example of the problem of financial misconduct in Nigeria’s political elite, where political actors are often accused of corruption.
Defense and legal proceedings
Ishaku has also refuted all the allegations leveled against him and said that they are politically influenced. In his defense, his defense team told the court that there was no proof of the allegations of fraud and embezzlement leveled against him by the EFCC.
The lawyers also argued that the financial transactions under probe were legal and aimed at financing legal state projects.
Nevertheless, the court decided that the former governor and his co-accused should be placed under detention until the further trial. The court is expected to sit again in the next few weeks, with the prosecution lined up to tender more evidence in support of its claims.
Combating corruption in nigeria
The charge against Ishaku is one of the many anti-corruption crusades being undertaken by Nigerian authorities to fight corruption in the political elite.
EFCC which is responsible for investigating and prosecuting cases of economic and financial crimes in the country has in recent years increased it’s operation and as a result many former governors and government officials have been prosecuted.
That the commission has been charged with the responsibility of prosecuting former public office holders is considered as a positive development in the fight to regain the public confidence in Nigerian political institutions.
Although the arrests of high profile persons including Ishaku at the slightest hint of wrong doing has drawn considerable concern as to the sincerity of the legal system.
There has been a claim of selective justice in any case with some people accusing the leadership of using corruption charges to persecute political opponents or competitors. Ishaku himself has intimated that the charges against him are politically motivated aimed at demoralizing him and reducing his political power within the Taraba State political arena.
The desire for greater accountability
The public in Nigeria will be anxiously waiting for the verdict of the case as many people believe that the trial will help bring change in the Nigerian political system.
Corruption has been a major issue in Nigeria for a very long time and has remained a major set back in the country’s development agenda and has also led to the loss of public trust in government.
The action of releasing Ishaku on remand and sending the message out that anyone involved in financial corrupt practices will definitely have the law on him or her neck no matter the status in the society.
The much that is expected to drag the trial to be protracted and full of rancor is a reminder that the war against corruption is still on in Nigeria. If this particular case holds the channel then it may be used as a guideline for future actions and makes sure that corrupt practices within the circles of government is also given a harsh blow.
