The trial of former Taraba State Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku and ex-Permanent Secretary Bello Yero continued at the FCT High Court in Abuja over an alleged N27 billion fraud.
The third prosecution witness, Taiwo Johns, told the court how funds meant for local governments allegedly passed through his company, P3 Cornerstone Limited.
Johns said the money came from Federal Government allocations sent by several local governments.
He testified that he always informed officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs after the funds entered the company’s account.
According to him, he was instructed on several occasions to withdraw the money or transfer it to accounts provided by government officials.
The witness told the court that Yorro Local Government paid N50 million into the company’s account on October 11, 2019, and he later handed the cash to the Permanent Secretary and Dare Lawal.
He also said another N58.5 million was withdrawn after he reported the payment to the Permanent Secretary and the Director of Finance, Babangida Hassan.
Johns further testified that transactions from Gassol and Ardo Kola local governments were also withdrawn and handed over to the same officials, while some funds were transferred to a person identified as Prince.
He told the court that more payments entered the company’s account in December 2019 and in March and September 2020 from different local governments.
The witness said most of the money was withdrawn and handed over to the Permanent Secretary, while some transfers were made to Prince on official instructions.
Johns added that he did not know the actual purpose of the government funds that passed through his company’s account.
Justice S.C. Oriji admitted additional exhibits tendered by the prosecution and adjourned the case until October 6, 2026, for the continuation of the witness’s testimony.