A prosecution witness in the trial of former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku has told an Abuja High Court that about ₦1.8 billion belonging to local governments was transferred into his private company’s bank account during the former governor’s administration.
The witness, Taiwo Jones, an assistant cashier with the Taraba State Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, made the disclosure on Monday while testifying before Justice Sylvanus Oriji.
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Ishaku and a former Permanent Secretary in the bureau, Bello Yero, on charges of criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and the alleged diversion of ₦27 billion in public funds. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Jones told the court that his company received 69 separate transfers from Gassol Local Government Area amounting to about ₦1.8 billion.
He said the transfers were made on the instructions of the former Permanent Secretary, Bello Yero, through the Director of Finance.
“I informed them whenever the money entered my account, and they would direct me to either transfer it to Prince in Abuja or withdraw it in cash,” Jones testified.
According to him, after withdrawing the funds, the cash was handed over to the EFCC’s first prosecution witness, Dare Lawal, and other officials for confirmation.
Responding to questions from Justice Oriji on who gave him the directives, Jones identified Yero, Lawal and the permanent secretary’s driver.
He further alleged that Yero sometimes conveyed the cash to the Taraba Government House.
“I know this because I occasionally drove the permanent secretary to the Government House with the money inside a Ghana-Must-Go bag,” he told the court.
Jones also testified about a ₦100 million payment made on December 24, 2018, into the account of P3 Cornerstone. He said the payment was approved by the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and described in official records as funds for the purchase of assorted grains for Christmas and New Year distribution.
However, he alleged that the money was not used for that purpose.
“The money was not spent on buying assorted grains. Instead, I withdrew it and handed it over to Lawal,” he said.
The witness also told the court that he received an additional ₦30 million from the salary account of Donga Local Government Area.
Justice Oriji adjourned the case until Tuesday for the continuation of the trial.
