A prosecution witness on Monday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja how N1.8 billion meant for the purchase of Christmas grains in Taraba State was allegedly diverted into a private company account and later withdrawn in cash.
The witness, Taiwo Johns, appeared as PW3 in the trial of former Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, and the former Permanent Secretary in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Ishaku and Yero on a 15-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds to the tune of N27 billion.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the witness informed the court that the money was deposited into his P3 Cornerstone International Nigeria Limited account, based on the Directive of his boss, the second defendant, the Director of Finance and the Chief Cashier.
“All the money paid to P3 Cornerstone was based on the directive of my boss, Alhaji Bello Yero, the permanent Secretary; Babangida Hassan, the Director of Finance and John Columba, the Chief Cashier, my immediate boss”, he said.
He disclosed that the defendants transferred funds to his accounts sixty-nine times, adding that “there are serial numbers, date of transaction, account number debited, account name, beneficiary account number, beneficiary account name and the amount.”
He added that all sixty-nine times the money was sent to his company account was from the Gassol local government in the state.
When asked by the prosecution counsel if he had an idea of the amount the local government transferred into his account, the witness said, “The amount will be roughly about N1.7 billion to N1.8 billion. On instruction of the Permanent Secretary, Bello Yero, Babangida Hassan, the Director of Finance and John Columba, the Chief Cashier.”
When asked what was done with the funds, the witness said he reported back to them that some money entered his account, then they gave him further directives either to send it to Mr Prince, that is PW2 or to withdraw some and “after the withdrawal they came with Dare Lawal, PW1, he will confirm the money, and they will go with the money.”
Sometimes, he said, Mr Yero, the Permanent Secretary, will come and take it to the government house.
On how he knew the money was taken to the government house, he added: “Sometimes I will carry him, the second defendant, and drop him at the government house with the money in a Ghana Must Go bag, drop him and then go,” the witness responded.
He added that the money credited sixty-nine times into his account was from Gassol Local Government Salary Transmission Account, adding that they always used the account for salary, projects, revenue and other purposes.
ALSO READ: EFCC arraigns ex-Port Harcourt Refinery MD over alleged N1.32 billion fraud
He said that they paid N100 million into his P3 Cornerstone account on December 24, 2018, prepared by the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and authorised by the two signatories, the permanent Secretary and Director of Finance.
The PW3 informed the court that the narration on the E-payment is for the purchase of assorted grains to be distributed during Christmas and New Year on December 24, 2018.
“Look at exhibit 9, see the last transaction on page 11 of exhibit 9, see the transaction on the 24 12 2018, what is it for?”, Jacob asked.
“The last transaction is N100 million, for the purchase of assorted grains for distribution during Christmas. Some of the money was withdrawn as cash. My lord, you may wish to know that the account is a business account. I wait for instruction, so when the money came in, the N100 million was withdrawn by me all in cash, it was handed over to Dare Lawal by me”, the witness said.
He added that there was a cheque of N30 million on page 3 of Exhibit 11, which is also paid to his company, P3 Cornerstone Account, adding that the money was not used for the purpose of buying assorted grains for distribution during Christmas.
“Did you buy any grain?” the prosecution counsel asked.
“No, Sir,” he responded
Justice Oriji thereafter adjourned the matter to 14 July 2026, for continuation of the trial.
