The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken into custody former Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku in connection with an alleged fraudulent scheme involving N27 billion.

According to reports, Ishaku’s arrest follows an extensive investigation into financial irregularities during his tenure as governor.

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The anti-graft agency alleges that Ishaku mismanaged state funds, diverting billions for personal gain.

Ishaku, alongside a co-defendant identified as Yero, is facing 15 charges of corruption, criminal diversion of public funds, and misappropriation stretching from 2015 to 2021.

Breakdown of Allegations

According to the EFCC, Ishaku and Yero illegally acquired N1.10 billion between August 25, 2015, and March 21, 2016, and dishonestly diverted an additional N1.1 billion from the state’s coffers for personal gain, as outlined in counts one to four.

The fifth count accuses the defendants of misappropriating N193 million between January 2019 and April 2021, while the sixth and seventh counts allege the illegal diversion of N650 million and N170 million respectively, during the same period.

In counts eight and nine, the EFCC alleges the defendants funneled N201.9 million and another N132.1 million into private accounts.

Further, counts ten and eleven claim they misappropriated a staggering N3.3 billion, alongside an additional N639.4 million between July 2019 and February 2021.

The court also heard that N993 million was unlawfully diverted between September 30, 2016, and February 23, 2021, according to count twelve.

In a separate count, the defendants allegedly misappropriated N90 million between May and December 2015.

Ishaku Faces Additional Charges

In counts fourteen and fifteen, Ishaku stands as the sole defendant, accused of siphoning N23 million and N761.3 million between October 2016 and January 2018.

The former governor pleaded not guilty to all charges, with his legal team dismissing the allegations as politically motivated.

However, the EFCC insists it has substantial evidence to prove the mismanagement of public funds during his tenure.

The case has been adjourned for further hearings, with public attention now focused on what could be one of the most high-profile corruption trials involving a former state governor in recent years.

Folakemi Falana, daughter of human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has issued a threat to social media critic, VeryDarkMan for failing to retract alleged defamatory statements made about her family members.

She made the threat in an Instagram post on Friday, while denying bribery and corruption allegations against her father, Falana and her brother, singer Falz.

Recall that embattled crossdresser Bobrisky was sentenced to six months in prison on April 12, 2024, following his involvement in the abuse of the Nigerian currency, the naira.

BIZTELLERS reports that VeryDarkMan on Tuesday September 24, 2024, released a leaked voice recording of Bobrisky claiming that Falz contacted him about obtaining a presidential pardon for him through his father, Femi Falana.

According to the leaked audio, Bobrisky further stated that Femi Falana negotiated a settlement of N10 million for the case.

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Reacting to the controversial claims on Wednesday, Falz denied the allegation, noting that Bobrisky only contacted him to seek financial assistance of N3 million to pay some officials for him to stay in the VIP section of the Correctional Centre.

Falz and his father, through Falana and Falana’s Chambers, issued VeryDarkMan a 24-hour ultimatum to retract his comments.

Responding to the ultimatum in a video on social media, VeryDarkMan explained that he never defamed the duo, noting that he only reacted to the leaked audio he shared on his platform.

However, reacting to VeryDarkMan’s response to the ultimatum, Folakemi Falana in an Instagram post, shared that Falana & Falana Chambers have been providing free legal support for individuals seeking presidential pardons since 2016.

While expressing her disappointment over the development, Folakemi wrote: “My Parents and our firm, Falana & Falana have been applying for presidential pardons for Nigerians FREE way before a lot of you were born or could talk.

“It’s even crazier that all it takes is for a ridiculous character like VeryDarkMan to accuse my dad and Falz of bribery, corruption and perversion of the course of justice and you people suddenly forget who they are and what they stand for.

“For him to have the audacity to go as far as even accusing Falz of being homosexual is wild. For the record, anyone can write the President to request a pardon for any convicted person in Nigeria.

“Do you think my dad or Falz need Bob’s money??? For what? Seeing as you have refused to do the needful, #verydarkblackman see you in court.”

In a show of support, controversial figure Martins Otse, also known as, VeryDarkMan, has celebrated the suspension of two officers by the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS).

He disclosed this in a video posted via his Facebook page on Thursday.

This suspension follows serious allegations made by popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, widely recognized as Bobrisky against the NCoS and the EFCC.

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Bobrisky claimed that he had bribed EFCC operatives with N15 million to drop money laundering charges against him and that he had also attempted to bribe NCoS officials to evade imprisonment.

Expressing his satisfaction with the minister’s actions, VeryDarkMan stated, “The honorable minister of interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, you have proven yourself to me before, and I was just relaxed watching. And boom, you did it again with the suspension of some officers that might be involved in this whole Bobrisky saga.”

He praised the minister’s commitment to improving Nigeria, adding that they are working together to create positive change.

He added, “much love Egbon it’s a fight to make Nigeria a better place and we will definitely make it a better place with our own little efforts, keep that fire burning, we have picked each others brains and I believe in you for now because as a politician you fit go change tomorrow so for now you are the guy, GOD BLESS YOU,I love you Egbon.”