The trial of former Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, over the alleged diversion of N27 billion in public funds took a dramatic turn on Tuesday as a prosecution witness told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that several local government councils allegedly channelled hundreds of millions of naira through a private company’s account under the former governor’s administration.
The witness, Taiwo Johns, who testified as the third prosecution witness (PW3) before Justice S.C. Oriji, alleged that funds from multiple local government councils were paid into the account of P3 Cornerstone Nigeria Limited, a company linked to him, before being withdrawn in cash and handed over to senior government officials.
Johns, who is testifying in the trial of Ishaku and former Permanent Secretary of the Taraba State Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, told the court that every transaction executed through the company’s account was carried out on the instructions of Yero, the bureau’s Director of Finance, Babangida Hassan, and Chief Cashier, John Columba.
According to the witness, the transactions were not initiated by him but were executed strictly on directives from his superiors.
“All the money paid to P3 Cornerstone was based on the directives of my boss, Alhaji Bello Yero, the Permanent Secretary; Babangida Hassan, the Director of Finance; and John Columba, the Chief Cashier, who was my immediate boss,” Johns told the court.
He testified that on July 1, 2019, Donga Local Government transferred N30 million into the company’s account, which already had a balance of N2 million. Shortly after the funds were received, he said he was instructed to withdraw the entire N30 million in cash.
According to him, he went to the bank with Dare Lawal—who had earlier testified as the first prosecution witness—and handed over the money after withdrawing it.
Johns further told the court that Donga Local Government made another transfer of N8 million on July 3, while a manager’s cheque for the same amount was credited on July 5.
He also alleged that Yorro Local Government deposited N3 million through a manager’s cheque on July 22, 2019, which he withdrew the same day before allegedly handing the cash to Bello Yero and driving him to the Government House.
The witness said the inflow of funds continued as Blessed Springs Modern Communication paid N4.4 million into the account on July 24, while two separate transfers of N10 million each were allegedly received from Henrietta Meepatan on the same day.
Johns told the court that after notifying the Director of Finance, he acted on further instructions regarding the movement of the funds, adding that he withdrew N6 million, N5 million and N1 million from the deposits.
He further alleged that Gashaka Local Government later deposited a manager’s cheque of N35 million into the account, while Donga and Zing Local Government Councils subsequently transferred N40.5 million and N35 million respectively.
According to him, the three councils paid a combined N110 million into the account, all of which he withdrew in cash before the Permanent Secretary and Dare Lawal allegedly confirmed and collected the money at the bank.
The witness also testified that Gassol Local Government transferred N73 million into the account on July 31, 2019, while Bali Local Government paid another N40 million on the same day. He added that Ardo Kola Local Government later transferred N40 million on September 3, 2019.
Johns further informed the court that on September 18, 2019, six different local government cashiers made separate cash deposits into the account amounting to about N51.8 million.
He listed the deposits as N8.5 million, N9.5 million, N9 million, N8.9 million, N9.2 million and N6.7 million, adding that a significant portion of the funds received from the councils was later transferred to the account of Blessed Springs.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Ishaku and Yero on charges bordering on the alleged diversion and mismanagement of about N27 billion belonging to Taraba State.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the allegations remain before the court. The trial continues before Justice S.C. Oriji of the FCT High Court in Abuja.