The trial of former Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, and a former Permanent Secretary in the state Bureau for Local Government (LG) and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, continued on Monday before Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with a prosecution witness alleging that funds belonging to local governments in the state were routinely paid into his private account on official instructions.
The third prosecution witness (PW3), Taiwo Johns, told the court that money from various local governments was deposited into the account of his company, P3 International, and that he acted on directives from senior officials, including Yero, on how the funds should be disbursed.
Ishaku and Yero are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 15-count charge bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and the alleged diversion of public funds amounting to N27 billion.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Johns explained that he initially used the company account for his farming business before joining the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs as an Assistant Cashier.
According to him, former Chief Cashier John Columba, former Director of Finance Babangida Hassan, and former Permanent Secretary Bello Yero instructed him to provide his account details for the receipt of funds.
“They asked me to submit the account number so that some money would be sent to me and that I should await further instructions on what to do with the money,” he told the court.
Johns said that after funds were deposited into his account by local governments, he would report to his superiors and await directives on whether to withdraw the money in cash or transfer it to designated accounts.
“Sometimes when money comes into the account, I withdraw it and wait for further instructions. At other times, I am given account numbers to transfer the funds to.
“Sometimes, Lawal, who was Personal Assistant to the Governor, would come and collect the cash,” he testified.
The witness further stated that instructions often came from Yero, Hassan, or other officials within the bureau.
He disclosed several transactions allegedly linked to the case, including payments made to the second prosecution witness, Prince Onwuzuruike.
Johns told the court that on 20 November 2017, he transferred a total of N5.25 million to Onwuzuruike on instruction, while another N6.25 million was transferred to him from funds received on 6 February 2018.
(EFCC)
