The trial of former Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, and a former Permanent Secretary in the state’s Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, has taken a fresh turn. The third prosecution witness, Taiwo Johns, revealed how funds meant for local governments were allegedly withdrawn and transferred to government officials. Johns gave the testimony before Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.
According to Johns, several sums of money, allegedly Federal Government subventions, were transferred by local governments into the account of his company, P3 Cornerstone. He said that 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.
One of the transactions occurred on October 11, 2019, when Yoro Local Government allegedly lodged N50 million into P3 Cornerstone’s account. Johns said he subsequently reported the transaction to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and was instructed to withdraw the money. The witness said he handed the money over to the Permanent Secretary and Dare Lawal.
Johns also testified about another transaction involving N58 million, which he said was deposited into the account and reported to the Permanent Secretary and Babangida Hassan, the Director of Finance. He referred to Exhibit 11, telling the court that it contained a cheque of N64.95 million from Gassol Local Government dated November 5, 2019. Johns added that N1.45 million was sent to P3 Cornerstone on the same date and that the money was paid into the Emirate and Traditional Council account.
The witness further testified about transactions involving Ardo Kola and Gassol local governments. He said there was a manager’s cheque of Ardo Kola Local Government on November 28, 2019, of N55m. On the same date, N62m 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 According to Johns, N50 million from the Gassol transaction was withdrawn and handed over to the Permanent Secretary at a UBA branch.
Johns continued his testimony, referring the court to Exhibit 9 and narrating another transaction involving Gassol Local Government on December 2, 2019. 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, who instructed me to withdraw the money: N30,498,593.
The witness also testified about transactions involving P3 Cornerstone in March and September 2020. He told the court that on March 23, 2020, N11.350 million, N75 million and N2,500,036.25 were received by P3 Cornerstone. According to him, on March 24, 2020, N20,470,036.25 was deposited into the company’s account, while another N1,500,036.25 was also received.
Key points
- The trial is over an alleged N27 billion fraud involving former Taraba State Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku and a former Permanent Secretary Bello Yero.
- The witness, Taiwo Johns, testified about multiple transactions involving local government funds being withdrawn and transferred to government officials.
- The trial is ongoing at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, with Justice S.C. Oriji presiding.
