The ongoing 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, took a fresh turn on Monday as a prosecution witness detailed how millions of naira allegedly received from local governments were withdrawn and handed over to government officials.
The witness, Taiwo Johns, the third prosecution witness, gave the testimony before Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, in the trial involving an alleged N27 billion fraud.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Johns told the court that several sums described as Federal Government subventions were transferred by local governments into the account of his company, P3 Cornerstone.
He said that after receiving the funds, he reported the transactions to officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and was subsequently instructed on several occasions to withdraw the money in cash or transfer portions to designated accounts.
Johns cited a transaction involving Yoro Local Government on October 11, 2019, when N50 million was allegedly lodged into P3 Cornerstone’s account.
“The transaction is from Yoro Local Government on October 11, 2019. Yoro Local Government made a lodgment of N50m into P3 Cornerstone,” he told the court.
The witness said he reported the transaction to the Permanent Secretary and was instructed to withdraw the money.
“On the same day the amount was reported to the Perm Sec, they asked me to make a withdrawal of the amount, which I did, and the Perm Sec came to the bank. I handed it to the Perm Sec and Dare Lawal,” Johns said.
He also testified about another transaction involving N58.5 million, which he said was deposited into the company’s account and reported to the Permanent Secretary and the Director of Finance, Babangida Hassan.
Johns further referred the court to Exhibit 11, which he said contained a N64.95 million cheque from Gassol Local Government dated November 5, 2019.
He said N1.45 million was also sent to P3 Cornerstone on the same day and subsequently paid into the emirate and traditional council account, which he explained was used to pay salaries, allowances and medical expenses of emirs and chiefs.
The witness also described transactions involving Ardo Kola and Gassol local governments.
“There is 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,” he said.
According to him, N50 million from the Gassol transaction was withdrawn and handed to the Permanent Secretary at a United Bank for Africa (UBA) branch, while N5.6 million was transferred to an individual identified as Prince.
“On the same date, November 29, 2019, Prince received N5.6m. The balance was cashed and handed over to the Perm Sec and Dare Lawal in UBA,” he said.
Johns also referred to Exhibit 9 while recounting another Gassol Local Government transaction dated December 2, 2019.
He said N17,378,542 and N13,120,051 were lodged into the P3 Cornerstone account on that date, bringing the total to N30,498,593.
Johns said he reported the transaction to Hassan, who instructed him to withdraw the money.
“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,” he said.
The witness further testified about transactions involving P3 Cornerstone in March and September 2020.
He told the court that on March 23, 2020, the company received N11.35 million, N75 million and N2.5 million, while further transactions were recorded in the company’s account the following day.
Johns also said P3 Cornerstone received N39,999,300.45 and N39,999,500 from transactions involving Zing Local Government on September 14, 2020.
He added that another N7.85 million was received from Yoro Local Government on the same date.
According to the witness, funds reflected in P3 Cornerstone’s account were subsequently withdrawn and handed over to the Permanent Secretary, while some amounts were transferred to Prince.
However, Johns told the court that he did not know the specific purpose for which the subventions were intended.
At the close of his testimony for the day, Jacobs tendered additional documents, which were admitted in evidence and marked as Exhibits 13, 14 and 15.
Justice Oriji adjourned the case until Tuesday, October 6, 2026, for continuation of the testimony of PW3.
