The trial of a former governor of Taraba State, Darius Dickson Ishaku, and a former Permanent Secretary in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Bello Yero, continued on Monday, June 15, 2026, before Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with the Third Prosecution Witness, PW3, Taiwo Johns, informing the court that money from local governments in the state was paid into his private account on the instruction of Yero and other officials of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for disbursement.
He further informed the court that he usually withdrew the money in cash.
Ishaku, the first defendant, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside Yero, on a 15-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and conversion of public funds amounting to N27 billion.
Speaking on how the EFCC invited him and traced the alleged funds to the account of his company, P3 International Account, the witness stated that he had used the company account to manage his farming business before joining the civil service as an Assistant Cashier in the state’s Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
He further disclosed that John Columba, former Chief Cashier; Babangida Hassan, former Director of Finance; and former Permanent Secretary, Bello Yero, instructed him, in the course of his duties, to provide his account details and await instructions on how to disburse any funds paid into the account.
“They asked me to submit my account number so that some money could be sent to me and instructed me to await further directions on what to do with the money. A few days later, some money was sent to the account by the local government. When the money entered my account, I reported to my chief cashier, John Columba, before reporting to Babangida Hassan, who in turn reported to Bello Yero before I was directed on where to pay the money,” he said.
When asked by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, how he disbursed the funds, the witness stated:
“Sometimes, when money comes into the account, I withdraw it or leave it in the bank and wait for further instruction. At times, I am given an account number into which the money should be paid, while on some occasions, Lawal, P.A. to His Excellency, comes and I hand the money over to him.”
He further testified that:
“Sometimes the instruction is given by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Yero, the second defendant; the Director of Finance, Babangida Hassan; and sometimes by the cashier of the local government who lodges the money into my account, after which I report to my immediate boss.”
He also informed the court that he was often given account numbers for the disbursement of funds. He disclosed that N3 million from funds received from a local government on November 20, 2017, was paid to the Second Prosecution Witness, PW2, Prince Onwuzuruike, alongside an additional N2,250,000, bringing the total amount paid to N5,250,000 in one day, based on instructions.
He further disclosed that he received N7,750,000 on February 6, 2018, and was instructed to transfer N6,250,000 to Onwuzuruike.
According to him, on April 11, 2018, Columba, the Chief Cashier of the local government, paid sums of N5 million, N1.7 million, and N1.8 million into his account, respectively, and that a cash withdrawal was made on April 16, 2018, based on the instruction of the Director of Finance, Babangida Hassan.
He further testified that he received a credit of N4,767,386.41 on April 26, 2018, and on the same date, transferred N4,780,000 and N3,220,000 to Prince Onwuzuruike. He added that there were further cash deposits of N5,650,000 and N4,500,000 on April 27, 2018, with instructions to transfer N4,780,000 and N3,370,000 to Onwuzuruike.
Justice Oriji adjourned the matter until July 7, 2026, for continuation of trial.
