The trial of former Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, and erstwhile Permanent Secretary in the state’s Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, took a fresh turn yesterday as a prosecution witness narrated how funds allegedly meant for local governments were withdrawn and handed over to government officials.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) via its X handle, the third prosecution witness (PW3), Taiwo Johns, gave testimony before Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, during the ongoing trial over the alleged N27 billion fraud.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Johns told the court that local governments transferred several sums allegedly received as Federal Government subventions into the account of his company, P3 Cornerstone.
He said that after receiving the funds, he reported the transactions to officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and, on several occasions, was directed to either withdraw the money in cash or transfer it to designated accounts.
Johns said on October 11, 2019, Yoro Local Government lodged N50 million into P3 Cornerstone’s account.
Powered by VidCrunch
“The transaction is from Yoro Local Government on October 11, 2019. Yoro Local Government made a lodgment of N50m into P3 Cornerstone,” he told the court.
He said he subsequently reported the transaction to the Permanent Secretary and was instructed to withdraw the money.
“On the same day the amount was reported to the Perm Sec, they asked me to make a withdrawal of the amount, which I did, and the Perm Sec came to the bank. I handed it to the Perm Sec and Dare Lawal,” he said.
The witness also testified about a N58.5 million transaction, which he said was reported to the Permanent Secretary and the Director of Finance, Babangida Hassan, before the money was withdrawn.
Johns referred to Exhibit 11, which contained a cheque of N64.95 million from Gassol Local Government dated November 5, 2019.
He said N1.45 million was sent to P3 Cornerstone on the same date and paid into the emirate and traditional council account, which he said was used for the payment of salaries, allowances and medical expenses of emirs and chiefs.
He further told the court that Ardo Kola Local Government issued a manager’s cheque for N55 million on November 28, 2019, while N62 million was received from Gassol Local Government on the same day.
According to him, N50 million from the Gassol transaction was withdrawn and handed over to the Permanent Secretary at a UBA branch, while N5.6 million was transferred to a person identified as Prince.
Johns also narrated a December 2, 2019 transaction involving N17.37 million and N13.12 million from Gassol Local Government.
He said the combined N30.49 million was withdrawn after he reported the transaction to the Director of Finance and was handed over to the Director and Dare Lawal.
The witness further testified about transactions involving P3 Cornerstone in March and September 2020.
He said the company received several sums, including N11.35 million, N75 million and N2.5 million on March 23, 2020, while further funds were received the following day.
Johns also told the court that on September 14, 2020, P3 Cornerstone received N39.99 million and another N39.99 million from Zing Local Government.
He added that N7.85 million was received from Yoro Local Government on the same day.
According to him, the funds were subsequently withdrawn and handed over to the Permanent Secretary, while some were transferred to Prince.
The witness, however, told the court that he did not know the specific purpose for which the subventions were intended.
Following his testimony, Jacobs tendered additional documents which were admitted in evidence and marked Exhibits 13, 14 and 15.
Justice S.C. Oriji adjourned the matter until October 6, 2026, for continuation of the evidence of PW3.