Darius ishaku biography

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He worked in the private sector and also served as a university lecturer, influencing the next generation of architects and planners. He also served as the Minister of Power before contesting for the gubernatorial seat in Taraba State.

In 2015, Ishaku won the governorship election under the banner of the PDP, and he was re-elected for a second term in 2019.

CONTROVERSIES

In September 2024, after leaving office, Darius Ishaku was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on charges of corruption.

Alternative: ^[12] He also holds fellowship in the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (FNITP), signifying leadership and expertise in urban development discourse.^[21][20]These affiliations underscore his pre-political engagement with networks dedicated to elevating architectural and planning practices in Nigeria, though specific leadership roles or publications from this period remain undocumented in available records.^[22]

Political career

Ministerial roles

In 2011, Darius Ishaku was appointed Minister of State for Power under President Goodluck Jonathan's administration.^[11] In September2012, following the dismissal of the substantive Minister of Power, he was directed to oversee the ministry on an interim basis.^[23]In October 2012, Ishaku was reassigned as Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs.^[24] During this tenure, the ministry under his oversight continued initiatives such as skill acquisition centers established in the nine oil-producing states since 2008 to promote vocational training and economic empowerment in the region.^[25] In September 2014, he announced the commencement of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) training for 100 youths from the Niger Delta to enhance employability and technological skills.^[26] Ishaku also publicly described the Niger Delta Master Plan as impracticable, advocating for more targeted development approaches amid ongoing regional challenges.^[25]Concurrently, in September 2013, Ishaku was designated Supervising Minister for Environment while retaining his Niger Delta portfolio.^[27] In this role, he chaired the national launch of the Rural Women Energy Security (RUWES) initiative, aimed at providing sustainable energy access to rural women through clean cooking technologies and reduced reliance on traditional fuels.^[28] He promoted renewable energy adoption in rural communities, emphasizing programs to educate on emission-reducing energy switches for health and environmental benefits.^[29]Ishaku resigned from his ministerial positions on October 15, 2014, to seek the People's Democratic Party (PDP) nomination for the Taraba State governorship.^[30][31]

2015 gubernatorial campaign and election

Ishaku secured the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination for the Taraba State governorship on December 11, 2014, after the primary was abruptly relocated from Jalingo to Abuja without public explanation, sparking immediate controversy over procedural irregularities and delegate manipulations.^[32] Challengers, including prominent southern Taraba figures, contested the outcome in court, alleging undue influence by party leadership, yet Ishaku prevailed amid internal party divisions exacerbated by the state's zoning conventions favoring a southern candidate.^[33]The campaign unfolded against a backdrop of acute political instability triggered by Governor Danbaba Suntai's October 25, 2012, plane crash near Yola, which left him incapacitated and ignited a protracted power struggle involving the impeachment of his deputy, multiple acting governors, and repeated legal interventions that paralyzed governance until 2015.^[34] Ishaku's "Rescue Mission" platform emphasized restoring security amid ethno-religious clashes and economic stagnation, positioning him as a technocrat capable of stabilizing the ethnically diverse state through urban planning expertise and federal connections.^[35]The election occurred on April 11, 2015, with supplementary voting in select areas on April 25 due to logistical disruptions; the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Ishaku the winner on April 26, certifying his victory over All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Aisha Jummai Alhassan based on valid votes cast.^[36][37] He was inaugurated on May 29, 2015, but faced swift legal challenges from the APC, culminating in the Election Petition Tribunal nullifying the result on November 7, 2015, for alleged non-compliance with voter registration laws in certain local governments.^[38] The Court of Appeal reversed the tribunal on December 31, 2015, reinstating Ishaku by finding insufficient evidence of widespread irregularities impacting the overall outcome.^[39]

Governorship (2015–2023)

First term priorities and initiatives

Upon assuming office on May 29, 2015, Darius Ishaku prioritized the Taraba Rescue Project as the foundational roadmap for governance, focusing on restoring stability, enhancing infrastructure, and boosting economic self-reliance amid a state plagued by prior ethnic strife and underdevelopment.^[40] The initiative encompassed economic, social, and cross-cutting sectors, with immediate emphasis on curbing violence that had displaced communities and stalled progress during the preceding administration.^[41]Security stabilization formed a cornerstone, given Taraba's history of communal clashes involving groups like the Jukun, Tiv, and Fulani.

Ishaku opposed regional security outfits for the north, favoring coordinated federal-state efforts over ethnic-based vigilantes. Soon after, he went ahead to pursue a Master's Degree in Urban and Regional Planning,

His professional career started off in 1980 as an Architect with Inter Design Partnership, but resigned after a year to join Bestarc International Association, where he rose to the position of a Director in 1983.

He is also a member of Nigerian Institute of Town Planners.

He contested for the 2015 Gubernatorial elections under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and emerged winner, however he was in a court battle with his opponent senator Aisha Jumai Alhassan who took him to court and after a series of cases Darius was the declared the winner of the governorship election in the state in 2016.

In 1974, he was admitted into school of Architecture Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained his Bachelor's of Science Degree in Architecture in 1977. These endeavors highlighted his technical proficiency in managing complex builds amid regional logistical challenges.^[19][12]Ishaku's professional standing was affirmed by his elevation to Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (FNIA), a designation reflecting sustained contributions to architectural standards and practice in Nigeria.

This recognition underscored his role in advancing urban planning principles tailored to northern Nigeria's environmental and developmental needs, separate from later governmental initiatives.^[17]

Academic and professional affiliations

Ishaku has worked as a university lecturer in architecture and urban planning at Nigerian institutions, contributing to the education of professionals in the field prior to his political appointments.^[19][20]He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (FNIA), having been admitted as a registered member in 1982 and elevated to fellowship in June 2001, which acknowledges his professional standing in architectural practice and standards advancement.

He won the initial gubernatorial election and was elected Governor of Taraba State after winning the subsequent re-run election.

 

Darius Ishaku Personal Life

Governor Ishaku is happily married to Her Excellency Barrister Mrs Anna Mbasughun Darius Ishaku and the union is blessed with children.

Darius Ishaku Net Worth

His net worth is not available.

In September 2015, Ishaku co-established a joint Benue-Taraba Peace Committee to monitor border threats and foster dialogue, marking an early cross-state effort to prevent escalation.^[42] By June 2017, he inaugurated a Truth and Reconciliation Commission alongside an administrative panel specifically for the Mambilla Plateau conflicts between Fulani herders and sedentary farmers, aiming for stakeholder dialogues to achieve lasting resolutions rather than temporary ceasefires.^[43] These bodies prioritized empirical assessment of root causes, such as land disputes, over punitive measures, contributing to reduced flare-ups in targeted areas during the initial years.^[44]Infrastructure initiatives targeted connectivity and urban functionality, leveraging Ishaku's architectural expertise.

Overall, fiscal strategy leaned on federal dependency and sector-specific spending rather than radical IGR reforms, with mixed outcomes in revenue autonomy during economic downturns.^[84][85]

Controversies and legal challenges

EFCC fraud investigation and charges (2024–present)

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Darius Ishaku, former governor of Taraba State, in late September 2024 on suspicion of misappropriating approximately ₦27 billion in funds allocated to the state's 16 local government councils between 2015 and 2023.^[6] The allegations center on the diversion and fraudulent conversion of these funds, which were purportedly intended for local government operations but were instead transferred to accounts controlled by Ishaku and associates.^[86][87]Ishaku faced arraignment on September 30, 2024, before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on a 15-count charge sheet accusing him of criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, fraudulent conversion, and misappropriation of public funds totaling over ₦27 billion.^[88][86] He pleaded not guilty to all counts, with the charges detailing specific instances such as the alleged diversion of ₦761.3 million and other sums from local government joint accounts into private entities.^[89] The co-defendant, a former permanent secretary in the Taraba State Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, faced related charges of conspiracy and aiding the breaches.^[88]On October 3, 2024, Justice Sylvanus Oriji granted Ishaku bail in the sum of ₦150 million, requiring two sureties—one a notable personality and the other a company with a certificate of registration—and restricting his travel outside Abuja without court permission pending trial commencement.^[90][91] The court initially adjourned proceedings to November 4, 2024, but the case has continued into 2025 with prosecution witnesses providing testimony on fund disbursements.^[92]In September 2025, the trial featured key testimony from prosecution witness Ismail Lawal, a former systems analyst, who recounted collecting cash sums—such as ₦200 million in one instance—on Ishaku's direct instructions for unspecified purposes and disbursing them accordingly, though he admitted inability to fully account for certain portions due to the cash-based nature of transactions.^[8][93] As of October 2025, the proceedings remain active before the FCT High Court, with no final verdict reached.^[8]

Criticisms of governance and debt accumulation

Critics, including members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State, accused Ishaku's administration of poor governance characterized by a lack of focus, failure to pay workers' salaries leading to widespread poverty among over 12,000 state employees, and policies that undermined local government autonomy, such as reducing chairmen's tenure to two years without clear public benefits.^[94] APC chieftains further alleged that Ishaku factionalized the populace along religious lines, hindering unified development efforts, and claimed undue credit for infrastructure projects initiated by previous administrations while delivering minimal tangible progress.^[94]Accusations of favoritism in communal and appointment policies surfaced, with the Taraba Muslim Council criticizing the government in January 2022 for marginalizing Muslims through biased allocations and appointments favoring certain ethnic or religious groups, prompting the administration to reject these claims as attempts to incite social upheaval.^[95] Such critiques from opposition figures and community groups portrayed Ishaku's handling of ethnic dynamics as exacerbating divisions rather than promoting equitable governance, distinct from broader security management.^[94]Ishaku's administration faced rebukes for leaving numerous projects incomplete, including the N4 billion greenhouse initiative in Jalingo, which residents in October 2022 described as a failed venture requiring explanation for its collapse despite substantial funding.^[96] In May 2023, shortly before the end of his term, Ishaku commissioned the Darius Dickson Ishaku (DDI) Garden Estate housing project along Jalingo airport road, where most apartments remained unfinished, internal roads unpaved, and basic amenities absent, drawing scrutiny for hasty inauguration amid evident construction shortfalls.^[97]On debt accumulation, opposition and civil society groups, such as the Taraba State Watchdog for Good Governance, claimed Ishaku's tenure saddled the state with over N200 billion in liabilities through unchecked borrowing, vowing resistance to further loans and attributing the burden to fiscal irresponsibility.^[98] Ishaku's government refuted these figures in February 2023, asserting the debt profile did not exceed N200 billion and emphasizing borrowings—totaling approximately N108.8 billion over eight years—were essential for capital projects amid limited federal allocations and internal revenue.^[85][99] APC spokespersons countered that such defenses masked mismanagement, arguing loans lacked justification and failed to yield proportional development, while aides to Ishaku dismissed APC critiques as lacking moral standing due to the party's internal divisions.^[100][94]

Personal life and legacy

Family and personal interests

Ishaku is married to Anna Dickson Ishaku, a barrister who founded the Hope Afresh Foundation Taraba, a non-governmental organization focused on community empowerment and humanitarian efforts such as supporting victims of gender-based violence and agricultural initiatives.^[101][102] The foundation, established under her leadership, has collaborated with international partners on grassroots projects in Taraba State.^[103]The couple has five children, including a daughter, Idi-shirin Ishaku, who married Efosa Igbinosun in Abuja in October 2022, and a son, Ika Tubui Ishaku, who wed Hanatu Ibrahim in 2021.

In the same year he registered his company, Excelare Partners an Architectural Planning and Engineering firm where he acted as Managing Director.

With several decades of architectural practice and experience along with an insatiable thirst for higher academic laurels, he began a PhD program in Architecture also at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in 2007.

Arc Darius Dickson Ishaku is a Registered Member of the Nigerian Institute Of Architects, and became a Fellow of the Institute of Architecture (FNIA).

Before delving fully into politics, Darius Ishaku had a notable career as an architect and urban planner. He is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and served as the Governor of Taraba State from May 29, 2015, to May 29, 2023.

DARIUS ISHAKU PROFILE

Name	Darius Ishaku
Real Name	Darius Dickson Ishaku
Date of Birth	30 July 1954
Age	70 Years
State of Origin	Taraba State
Nationality	Nigerian
Occupation	Politician, Architect and Lawyer
Religion	Christain
Marital Status	Married
Net Worth	$8 Million
Copied From	Contents101.com

DARIUS ISHAKU BIOGRAPHY

Ishaku hails from Takum in Taraba State.

Family members have participated in philanthropic activities aligned with the Hope Afresh Foundation's mission, emphasizing support for local vulnerable groups independent of governmental roles.^[104]Ishaku holds a personal interest in architecture, stemming from his early fascination with designing structures and urban environments, which influenced his approach to community-oriented development beyond professional engagements.^[19] This passion extends to envisioning sustainable community spaces, reflecting a commitment to practical improvements in living conditions.^[18]

Post-governorship activities

Following the handover of power to his successor, Agbu Kefas, on May 29, 2023, Darius Ishaku's public activities have centered on defending against EFCC charges related to alleged financial irregularities during his tenure.^[105] He was detained on September 27, 2024, and arraigned on 15 counts of criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and money laundering involving N27 billion in local government funds.^[6]Bail was granted at N150 million on October 4, 2024, with conditions prohibiting foreign travel.^[9][106]As of October 1, 2025, the trial persists in the Federal Capital Territory High Court, with prosecution witnesses providing testimony on fund disbursements but no verdict or conviction issued.^[8] This ongoing legal engagement has limited reports of other political or public involvements, including within the PDP or declarations of intent for the 2027 elections.

Awards and recognition

Notable honors received

In October 2022, Ishaku was conferred with the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), Nigeria's second-highest national honour, by President Muhammadu Buhari during the National Honours Investiture.^[107][108]Ishaku received the Governor of the Year in Water Resources award from Independent