AN official of the Taraba State Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Taiwo Johns, on Monday narrated before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court how ₦1.8 billion earmarked for the purchase of Christmas grains in the state was paid into his company’s account.
News Point Nigeria reports that Johns gave the testimony during the ongoing trial of former Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, and the state’s former Permanent Secretary in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, who are facing charges bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds.
Ishaku and Yero are standing trial on a 15-count charge filed against them, although both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
The former governor served as Taraba State governor between 2015 and 2023.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, the witness told the court that the money was paid into the account of his company, P3 Cornerstone International Nigeria Limited, on the directive of his former superior and second defendant, Bello Yero.
According to Johns, the funds were transferred from the account of Gassol Local Government Area into his company’s account through 69 separate transactions.
He further told the court that the transfers were carried out on the instructions of Yero, the bureau’s Director of Finance, Babangida Hassan, and the Chief Cashier, John Columba.
When asked by the prosecution counsel what happened after the money was credited to his company’s account, Johns explained that he immediately informed the officials involved and subsequently received further directives on how the funds should be handled.
“I reported back to them that some money entered my account. Then they gave me further directives either to send it to Mr Prince, that is PW2, or to withdraw some, and after the withdrawal they came with Dare Lawal, PW1, to confirm the money before they go with it,” the witness said.
Johns also told the court that part of the money was eventually taken to the Government House by the former permanent secretary.
Asked how he knew that the money was taken to Government House, the witness said he personally drove Yero there with a “Ghana-must-go” bag containing the cash.
The witness further disclosed that the money paid into his company’s account originated from Gassol Local Government Area’s salary transmission account, which, according to him, was used for salaries, projects, revenue and other official expenditures.
Johns specifically recalled that on December 24, 2018, the sum of ₦100 million was paid into his company’s account through an electronic payment prepared by the bureau and approved by its two authorised signatories, the then permanent secretary and the director of finance.
He explained that the narration attached to the transaction indicated that the payment was meant for the purchase of assorted grains for distribution during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
“The last transaction is ₦100m, for the purchase of assorted grains for distribution during Christmas. Some of the money was withdrawn cash,” he said.
“My lord, you may wish to know that the account is a business account. I waited for instruction, so when the money came in, the ₦100 million was withdrawn by me all in cash; it was handed over to Dare Lawal by me.”
However, when asked whether he eventually purchased any grains with the money, the witness replied in the negative.
“No, sir,” he answered.
Following the proceedings, the presiding judge, Justice S.C. Oriji, adjourned the matter until July 14 for the continuation of hearing.