Ishaku alleged N27bn fraud Trial continues as a witness tells the court he disbursed local government funds on official instructions

The trial of former Taraba State Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku and former Permanent Secretary in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, continued on Monday before Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, with a prosecution witness alleging that local government funds were paid into his private account and disbursed based on instructions from senior government officials.

Also read: Darius Ishaku trial uncovers shocking N27bn fraud

The defendants are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a 15-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds amounting to N27 billion. Both men are presumed innocent unless proven guilty by the court.

Testifying as the Third Prosecution Witness (PW3), Taiwo Johns told the court that money from various local governments in Taraba State was transferred into the account of his company, P3 International, and that he acted on instructions regarding how the funds should be handled.

According to Johns, he initially used the company account for his farming business before joining the civil service as an Assistant Cashier in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

The witness stated that he was instructed by former Chief Cashier John Columba, former Director of Finance Babangida Hassan and Bello Yero to provide his account details for the receipt of funds.

“They asked me to submit the account number so some money will be sent to me and await further instruction on what to do with it,” the witness told the court.

Johns alleged that after funds were deposited into the account, he would notify his superiors and subsequently receive instructions on whether to withdraw the money in cash, transfer it to designated accounts, or hand it over to specified individuals.

Led in evidence by prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the witness claimed that some funds were delivered to a person identified as Lawal, whom he described as a personal assistant to the governor at the time.

The court also heard details of several transactions allegedly linked to the movement of local government funds. Johns testified that on multiple occasions he transferred money to Prince Onwuzuruike following instructions from officials.

Among the transactions cited by the witness were transfers and withdrawals made between 2017 and 2018, including payments totalling N5.25 million and N6.25 million allegedly sent to Onwuzuruike after funds were credited to his account.

He further testified that on April 26, 2018, funds amounting to N4,767,386.41 were credited to the account, after which transfers of N4.78 million and N3.22 million were allegedly made to Onwuzuruike. Additional deposits and transfers were also detailed during the proceedings.

The Ishaku Alleged N27bn Fraud Trial is one of the most closely watched corruption cases involving a former state governor, with the prosecution seeking to establish how public funds were allegedly moved through private accounts.