A third prosecution witness (PW3) in the trial of former Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, alongside the former Permanent Secretary in the state’s Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, on Monday, July 13, 2026, told Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, how ₦1.8 billion meant for the purchase of Christmas grains in Taraba State was transferred into his company’s account from one of the local government salary transmission accounts.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Ishaku and Yero on a 15-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and conversion of public funds to the tune of ₦27 billion.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, the witness, Taiwo Johns, told the court that the money was paid into the account of P3 Cornerstone International Nigeria Limited on the directive of his boss, the second defendant, Bello Yero, as well as the Director of Finance and the Chief Cashier.
“All the money paid into P3 Cornerstone was based on the directive 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,” he said.
He disclosed that the defendants transferred funds into his company’s account 69 times, adding that each transaction had details such as the serial number, date of transaction, account number debited, account name, beneficiary account number, beneficiary account name, and the amount transferred.
He further stated that all 69 transfers originated from Gassol Local Government in the state.
When asked by the prosecution counsel if he knew the total amount transferred into his account, the witness responded: “The amount was roughly about ₦1.7 billion to ₦1.8 billion, on the instruction of the Permanent Secretary, Bello Yero; Babangida Hassan, the Director of Finance; and John Columba, the Chief Cashier.”
Asked what he did with the money, the witness said: “I reported back to them that money had entered my account. They then gave me further directives either to send it to Mr. Prince, who is PW2, or to withdraw some of it. After the withdrawal, they came with Dare Lawal, PW1, who would confirm the money, and they would leave with it. Sometimes, Alhaji Bello Yero, the Permanent Secretary, would come personally and take the money to the Government House.”
Asked how he knew the money was taken to the Government House, the witness replied: “Sometimes, I would drive the second defendant to the Government House with the money in a Ghana-Must-Go bag, drop him off, and then leave.”
He further testified that all 69 transfers into his account came from the Gassol Local Government Salary Transmission Account, which, according to him, was used for salaries, projects, revenue, and other government transactions.
The witness also told the court that ₦100 million was paid into the P3 Cornerstone account on December 24, 2018, through a payment prepared by the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and authorised by the two signatories—the Permanent Secretary and the Director of Finance.
According to him, the narration on the e-payment indicated that the money was meant for the purchase of assorted grains for distribution during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Referring the witness to Exhibit 9, Jacobs asked: “Look at Exhibit 9. See the last transaction on page 11 dated December 24, 2018. What was it for?”
The witness responded: “The last transaction was ₦100 million for the purchase of assorted grains for distribution during Christmas. Some of the money was withdrawn in cash. My Lord, you may wish to know that the account is a business account. I waited for instructions, so when the ₦100 million came in, I withdrew it all in cash and handed it over to Dare Lawal.”
He also told the court that there was a cheque for ₦30 million on page 3 of Exhibit 11, which was also paid into the P3 Cornerstone account, adding that the money was not used for the purchase of assorted grains for Christmas distribution.
Asked whether he purchased any grains with the funds, the witness replied: “No, sir.”
Justice Oriji thereafter adjourned the matter until July 14, 2026, for the continuation of trial.
