Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku and former Permanent Secretary of the state’s Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, has narrated to a Federal Capital Territory High Court how funds allegedly belonging to local governments were paid into a private company account and subsequently withdrawn or transferred on the instructions of government officials.
The witness, Taiwo Johns, an assistant cashier with the Taraba State Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, gave the testimony on Monday, October 5, 2026, before Justice S.C. Oriji of the FCT High Court in Abuja.
Johns appeared as the third prosecution witness in the case being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged N27 billion fraud involving Ishaku and Yero. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Led in evidence by EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Johns told the court that several sums described as local government subventions were transferred into the account of P3 Cornerstone Nigeria Limited, a company associated with him.
He said that whenever funds entered the account, he reported the transactions to senior officials of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and subsequently received instructions on what should be done with the money.
According to the witness, some of the funds were transferred to designated accounts, while others were withdrawn in cash and handed over to officials.
Johns specifically testified about a transaction involving Yorro Local Government, which he said transferred N50 million into the P3 Cornerstone account on October 11, 2019.
He told the court that after reporting the transaction to the Permanent Secretary, he was instructed to withdraw the money. He said he subsequently handed the cash to Yero and Dare Lawal, a former personal assistant to Ishaku.
The witness also told the court about another N58.5 million transaction, saying the money was reported to the Permanent Secretary and Babangida Hassan, who was then the Director of Finance.
He said he was subsequently directed on how the money should be disbursed and that some funds were transferred to another individual, Prince Onwuzurike.
Johns further mentioned transactions involving several local government councils, including Gassol, Ardo Kola and Zing.
He told the court that Gassol Local Government transferred several sums into the company’s account between 2019 and 2021. Premium Times reported that the witness estimated the total amount received from Gassol Local Government at between N600 million and N700 million.
According to the witness, some of the money received from local governments was subsequently transferred to an account identified as the “Seven per cent Emirates and Traditional Councils” account.
He also said other funds were withdrawn or transferred following instructions from officials of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The witness had previously testified in the trial that he operated P3 Cornerstone for his farming business before joining the state civil service as an assistant cashier. He said the EFCC later traced some of the funds under investigation to the company’s account.
Johns had also told the court during earlier proceedings that senior officials, including Yero, Babangida Hassan and John Columba, asked him to provide his company’s account details so that money could be paid into it pending further instructions.
During Monday’s proceedings, the witness continued identifying transactions contained in bank records presented to the court.
He told the court that on various dates, local government councils transferred funds into the P3 Cornerstone account and that he subsequently acted on instructions concerning the money.
The prosecution tendered additional documents through Johns during the proceedings, including financial records relating to the transactions under examination.
The testimony forms part of the EFCC’s case against Ishaku and Yero, who are facing 15 counts relating to alleged criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds.
The EFCC alleges that the defendants were involved in the diversion of about N27 billion belonging to the Taraba State Government and local governments in the state during Ishaku’s administration.
Ishaku served as governor of Taraba State from May 2015 to May 2023, while Yero served as Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The allegations remain subject to determination by the court, and the testimony of a prosecution witness does not by itself establish criminal liability against the defendants.
The trial judge adjourned the matter until Tuesday, October 6, 2026, for continuation of Johns’ evidence.
The proceedings are expected to continue with further examination of the financial records and transactions relied upon by the prosecution in support of its case.
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