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 sent to his private account with instruction, usually from Yero or other officers of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs on the disbursement.
He further informed the court that he usually withdraws such money in cash.
Ishaku, the first defendant, is facing prosecution 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 to the tune of N27 billion.
Speaking on his invitation by the EFCC and how the Commission traced the alleged funds to his company’s account, P3 International Account, he stated that he used the company account to manage his farming business before joining the civil service as 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, asked him in the course of his duty to make available his account information and always wait for instructions on what to do with any money sent to it.
“They asked me to submit the account number so that some money would be sent to me, and that I should await further instructions on what to do with the money. A few days later, some amount of 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 I reported to Bagangida Hassan, and he reported to Bello Yero before I was given a directive on where to pay the money,” he said.
Asked by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, how he disbursed the money, the witness stated that “Sometimes when money comes to this account, I will withdraw the money or leave it in the bank and wait for further instruction. Sometimes, I will be given the account number to lodge the money, while sometimes they will come with Lawal, P.A, to his excellency, and I will hand the money over to him,” he said.
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 the cashier of the local government lodges the money into my account, in which I will report to my immediate boss,” he said.
He further informed the court that he would often be given account numbers to disburse the money, disclosing that N3 million from such money from a local government, sent on November 20, 2017, was paid to the Second Prosecution Witness, PW2, Prince Onwuzuruike, with additional N2,250,000, totalling N5,250,000, all paid to him in one day on instructions. He also disclosed that he received N7,750,000 on February 6, 2018, and was asked to send N6,250,000 to Onwuzuruike.
He stated that on April 11, 2018, Columba, the Chief Cashier of the local government, sent money to his account, comprising N5 million, N1.7 million and N1.8 million, respectively and that there was a cash withdrawal on April 16, 2018, based on the instruction of the Director of Finance, Babangida Hassan.
He further stated that he received a credit of N4,767,386.41 on April 26, 2018 and that on the same date, N4,780,000 and N3,220,000 were transferred to Prince Onwuzuruike. According to him, there were cash deposits of N5,650,000 and N4,500,000 on April 27, 2018, with an instruction to send N4,780,000 and N3,370,000 to Prince Onwuzuruike.
Justice Oriji adjourned the matter till July 7, 2026 for continuation of the trial.
