The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court has granted
Darius Ishaku, former governor of Taraba, permission to travel to Dubai for
medical check-up and surgery.
Slyvanus Oriji, the presiding judge, granted the application
on Tuesday after it was filed by Chris Umar, counsel to Ishaku, on behalf of
the former governor.
The prosecution counsel did not oppose the application.
The judge adjourned the case to October 5, 2026, for
continuation of trial.
Ishaku and Bello Yero, former permanent secretary in the
Taraba Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, are standing trial
on a 15-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and
conversion of public funds.
They have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Ishaku served as governor of Taraba from 2015 to 2023.
On Monday, Taiwo Johns, an official of the Taraba Bureau for
Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, appeared before the court and
narrated how N1.8 billion meant for the purchase of Christmas grains in the
state was diverted through his company’s account.
The witness told the court that the money was paid into the
account of his company, P3 Cornerstone International Nigeria Limited, on the
directive of Yero, his former boss and the second defendant.
He said the funds were transferred from Gassol LGA’s account
to his company’s account in 69 transactions.
JOHNS’ TESTIMONY CONTINUES
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Johns continued his testimony.
The witness narrated how LGAs in the state transferred funds
to his company’s account for the purchase and distribution of Christmas grains.
Johns told the court that he received funds from Donga,
Zing, Gassol, and Yorro LGAs in multiple transactions in July 2019.
He added that the N3 million credited to his company’s
account by Yorro LGA on July 22, 2019, was withdrawn and handed over to Yero,
who took it to the government house.
“On July 24, 2019, Blessed Springs Modern Communication
credited my account with N4.4 million,” he added.
“On that day, I reported to my superior, Babangida Hassan,
the director of finance. On the same date, he gave an instruction on the
account the money would be transferred to, which he said was a directive from
above.
“On the same July 24, 2019, there were two transfers of N10
million each, into the P3 Cornerstone account. I reported the same to my boss.
“The two N10 million was paid into my account by the same
person, Henrietta Meepatan, I withdrew N6 million, N5million and N1million.”
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