The trial over the alleged ₦27 billion fraud involving former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku and a former Permanent Secretary in the state Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, continued on Monday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, with a prosecution witness giving fresh details of how large sums of money were allegedly handled.
Testifying before Justice S.C. Oriji, the witness, Taiwo Johns, claimed that about ₦1.8 billion meant for the purchase of grains for Christmas and New Year celebrations in Taraba State was paid into his company’s account before it was withdrawn in cash.
Johns appeared as the third prosecution witness in the case being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The anti graft agency has filed a 15 count charge against Ishaku and Yero, accusing them of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and diversion of public funds amounting to ₦27 billion. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
While being led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN, the witness told the court that every payment made into the account of P3 Cornerstone International Nigeria Limited was carried out on the instructions of Bello Yero, the then Permanent Secretary, Babangida Hassan, Director of Finance, and John Columba, who served as Chief Cashier.
According to him, money was transferred from the Gassol Local Government Salary Transmission Account into his company’s account on 69 different occasions. He explained that the transaction records contained the dates, beneficiary details, the accounts debited and the various amounts transferred.
When asked to estimate the total amount received, Johns told the court it was between ₦1.7 billion and ₦1.8 billion, adding that the transfers were made based on directives from the senior officials.
He further stated that whenever money entered his company’s account, he informed the officials, who then instructed him either to transfer the funds to another individual identified as Mr. Prince, who is also a prosecution witness, or withdraw the money in cash.
Johns said after the withdrawals, another prosecution witness, Dare Lawal, would verify the cash before taking possession of it. He added that on several occasions, Bello Yero personally collected the money.
The witness also alleged that he sometimes drove Yero to the Taraba State Government House with the cash packed inside Ghana Must Go bags.
According to his testimony, he would transport the second defendant along with the money to the Government House, where Yero would alight with the bags while he drove away.
Johns also drew the court’s attention to a ₦100 million payment made into his company’s account on December 24, 2018. He said the payment was processed by the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and approved by both the Permanent Secretary and the Director of Finance.
He explained that the payment description indicated the money was meant for the purchase of assorted grains for distribution during the Christmas and New Year festivities.
However, the witness told the court that the entire ₦100 million was withdrawn in cash and handed over to Dare Lawal. He also identified another payment of ₦30 million made into the same company account.
When asked by the prosecution whether he purchased any of the grains stated in the payment records, Johns gave a direct response, saying he did not buy any grains.
After hearing the witness’s testimony, Justice Oriji adjourned the matter until July 14, 2026, for the continuation of the trial.
