A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Darius Ishaku,
former governor of Taraba, and Bello Yero, former permanent secretary of the
state’s bureau for local government and chieftaincy affairs, has told a Federal
Capital Territory (FCT) High Court how funds meant for local governments in
Taraba were allegedly withdrawn and transferred to government officials.
Taiwo Johns, the third prosecution witness (PW3), appeared
on Monday before S.C. Oriji, judge of the FCT high court, in the trial of the
former governor by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an
alleged N27 billion fraud.
Led in evidence by Rotimi Jacobs, counsel for the EFCC,
Johns told the court that several amount of money, allegedly federal government
subventions, were transferred by local governments into the account of his
company, P3 Cornerstone.
The witness said after the funds were received, he reported
the transactions to officials of the ministry of local government and
chieftaincy affairs and was, on several occasions, instructed to either
withdraw the money in cash or transfer it to designated accounts.
According to him, one of the transactions occurred on
October 11, 2019, when Yoro LGA allegedly lodged N50 million into P3
Cornerstone’s account.
Johns said he reported the transaction to the permanent
secretary in the ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs, who
instructed him to withdraw the money.
Johns also testified about another transaction involving
N58.5 million, which he said was deposited into his company’s account and
reported to the permanent secretary and Babangida Hassan, director of finance.
He also referred to exhibit 11, which contained a cheque of
N64.95 million from Gassol LGA dated November 5, 2019.
Johns said N1.45 million was sent to P3 Cornerstone on the
same day and paid into the emirate and traditional council account, which he
said was used to pay salaries, allowances and medical expenses of emirs and
chiefs.
The witness further testified about transactions involving
Ardo Kola and Gassol LGAs.
“There is a manager’s cheque of Ardo Kola local government
on November 28, 2019, of N55 million,” he said.
“On the same date, N62 million entered P3 Cornerstone from
Gassol Local Government.”
According to Johns, N50 million from the Gassol transaction
was withdrawn and handed over to the permanent secretary at a UBA branch, while
another portion was transferred to one Prince.
“On the same date, November 29, 2019, Prince received N5.6
million. The balance was cashed and handed over to the Perm Sec and Dare Lawal
in UBA,” he said.
“On December 2, 2019, there was a transaction of N17,378,542
and N13,120,051 from Gassol Local Government lodged.
“I reported the case to my director of finance, Babangida
Hassan. He instructed me to withdraw the money: N30,498,593. I handed it over
to the director of finance and Dare Lawal.
Johns said the money was handed over to the permanent
secretary and Dare Lawal on the instruction of the permanent secretary.
MORE LGA FUNDS ALLEGEDLY WITHDRAWN
He further testified about transactions involving P3
Cornerstone in March and September 2020.
Johns told the court that on March 23, 2020, N11.35 million,
N75 million and N2,500,036.25 were received by P3 Cornerstone.
He said N20,470,036.25 was deposited into the company’s
account on March 24, while another N1,500,036.25 was also received.
Johns further told the court that on September 14, 2020, P3
Cornerstone received N39,999,300.45, while N39,999,500 was received from Zing
LGA on the same day.
He added that N7.85 million was also received into P3
Cornerstone Limited from Yoro LGA on September 14, 2020.
The witness said the funds reflected in P3 Cornerstone’s
account were subsequently withdrawn and handed over to the permanent secretary,
while some were transferred to Prince.
He also told the court that he did not know the specific
purpose for which the subventions were intended.
Following his testimony, the EFCC counsel tendered
additional documents before the court and were admitted in evidence and marked
as exhibits 13, 14 and 15.
The judge adjourned the matter until October 6, 2026, for
continuation of the evidence of the witness.
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