The ongoing trial of former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku and former permanent secretary Bello Yero has taken a dramatic turn, with a prosecution witness detailing how funds meant for local governments were allegedly funneled through private company accounts. Taiwo Johns, testifying as the third prosecution witness, explained that his company, P3 Cornerstone, received massive sums of money transferred from various local government councils out of federal government subventions.
According to Johns, whenever these funds hit his company’s account, he routinely notified the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, acting on direct instructions from ministry officials to either withdraw the cash or transfer it to designated accounts. Johns walked the court through specific financial transactions executed between late 2019 and 2020, citing multiple instances where millions were moved, withdrawn, and handed over in cash.
In October 2019, Yoro Local Government allegedly lodged ₦50 million into P3 Cornerstone’s account, and Johns testified that after notifying the permanent secretary, he was ordered to withdraw the cash. Moving into November 2019, transactions involving Ardo Kola and Gassol LGAs saw substantial movements, including a ₦55 million manager’s cheque from Ardo Kola and a ₦62 million influx from Gassol on November 28 and 29.
Johns stated that ₦50 million from the Gassol transaction was withdrawn at a UBA branch and handed directly to the permanent secretary, while portions were transferred to an individual identified as Prince, and the remaining balance was allegedly split between the permanent secretary and one Dare Lawal. By December 2019, additional lodgments totaling over ₦30 million from Gassol LGA were withdrawn on the instruction of the director of finance, Babangida Hassan, and handed over to the permanent secretary and Dare Lawal.
The witness further detailed additional inflows running into tens of millions of naira in March and September 2020 from various councils, including Zing and Yoro LGAs, noting that these sums were similarly withdrawn or distributed upon instruction. While pointing to specific exhibits admitted by the court—including bank documents and manager’s cheques marked as exhibits 13, 14, and 15—Johns maintained that he had no knowledge of the specific public projects or official purposes for which the subventions were originally intended.
The trial continues as the prosecution presents further evidence before the court. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, led Johns in evidence, and the witness provided detailed information about the alleged ₦27 billion fraud case brought against the former governor. The case has sparked significant attention, given the magnitude of the alleged fraud and the high-ranking officials involved.
As the trial progresses, the court is expected to hear from additional witnesses and review further evidence. The case against Ishaku and Yero is one of several high-profile corruption cases currently being prosecuted by the EFCC, and its outcome is likely to have significant implications for anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria.
Key points
- Former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku and former permanent secretary Bello Yero are on trial for allegedly diverting ₦27 billion meant for local governments through private company accounts.
- The prosecution witness, Taiwo Johns, detailed how funds were funneled through his company, P3 Cornerstone, and withdrawn or transferred to designated accounts on the instructions of ministry officials.
- The trial continues as the prosecution presents further evidence before the court, with the outcome likely to have significant implications for anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria.
