Witness details how LG funds entered private account in ex-governor Ishaku’s corruption trial

A prosecution witness has detailed in an Abuja court how funds designated for Taraba State local governments were channeled into his private company account and subsequently disbursed according to the instructions of state officials. Taiwo Johns testified before Justice Sylvanus Oriji in the ongoing N27 billion fraud trial of former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku and Bello Yero, the former Permanent Secretary in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

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They asked me to submit the account number so that some money would be sent to me and that I should await further instruction on what to do with the money

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged Ishaku and Yero with 15 counts, including criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and alleged conversion of public funds totaling N27 billion. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Johns, appearing as the third prosecution witness, began his testimony in April, with proceedings experiencing delays due to a change in legal representation for Yero.

Johns explained that his company, P3 International, initially used for farming, became a conduit for these funds. He stated that senior officials from the Bureau, including John Columba, Babangida Hassan, and Bello Yero, requested his account details, informing him that money would be sent and he should await further instructions. Local government cashiers sometimes paid money directly into his account.

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Sometimes when money comes into this account, I will withdraw the money or leave it in the bank and wait for further instruction

"Sometimes when money comes into this account, I will withdraw the money or leave it in the bank and wait for further instruction," Johns told the court. He further elaborated that after receiving funds, he would report to his chief cashier, John Columba, then to Babangida Hassan, who would then report to Bello Yero, before receiving directives on where to deposit the money. These directives sometimes involved transferring funds to specific account numbers and other times involved delivering cash.

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I reported to my chief cashier, John Columba, before I reported to Babangida Hassan and he reported to Bello Yero before I was given a directive on where to pay the money.

On one occasion, on November 20, 2017, N3 million was paid into his account from local government funds. Subsequently, N2.25 million was transferred to an individual named Prince Emmanuel Onwuzuruike. Johns indicated that these were the only transactions he could recall in detail from the funds that entered his account. He also mentioned handing cash to a man identified as Lawal, who he described as a personal assistant to the governor, further illustrating the complex network involved in the alleged misappropriation of public funds.

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