Alleged N27b Fraud: Witness Reveals How N1.8b Meant For Christmas Grains In Taraba Was Siphoned
A third Prosecution Witness, PW3, in the trial l of former Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku alongside the former permanent Secretary in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Bello Yero, on Monday, July 13, 2026, informed Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory , FCT, High Court Abuja, how N1, 800, 000, 000, 000 (One Billion, Eight Hundred Million Naira), meant for the purchase of Christmas grains in Taraba State, was transferred into his company account from one of the Local Government Salary Transmission Accounts.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Ishaku and Yero on a 15-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds to the tune of N27,000,000,000.00 (Twenty-Seven Billion Naira).
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, the PW3, Taiwo Johns, informed the court that the money was deposited into his P3 Cornerstone International Nigeria Limited account, based on the Directive of his boss, the second defendant; the Director of Finance and the Chief Cashier.
“All the money paid to P3 Cornerstone was based on the directive of my boss, Alhaji Bello Yero, the permanent Secretary; Babangida Hassan, the Director of Finance and John Columba, the Chief Cashier, my immediate boss”, he said.
He disclosed that the defendants transferred funds to his accounts sixty-nine times adding that “there are serial number, date of transaction, account number debited and account name, beneficiary account number, beneficiary account name and the amount.”
He added that all the sixty-nine times the money was sent to his company account was from Gassol local government in the state.
When asked by the prosecution counsel, if he had an idea of the amount the local government transferred into his account, the witness responded “the amount will be roughly about N1.7b to N1.8billion. On instruction of the Permanent Secretary, Bello Yero, Babangida Hassan, the Director of Finance and John Columba, the Chief Cashier.”
“What did you do with the money?”, the prosecution counsel asked.
“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, he will confirm the money, and they will go with the money. Sometimes, Alhaji Bello Yero, the Permanent Secretary will come and take it to the government house.
“How do you know he took the money to the government house?”, the counsel further asked
“Sometimes I will carry him, the second defendant and drop him at the government house with the money in a Ghana Must Go bag, drop him and then go”, the witness responded.
He added that the money credited sixty-nine times into his account was from Gassol Local Government Salary Transmission Account adding that they always used the account for salary, projects, revenue and other purposes.
He said that they paid N100m into his P3 Cornerstone account on December 24, 2018, prepared by the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and authorised by the two signatories; the permanent Secretary and Director of Finance.
The PW3 informed the court that the narration on the E-payment is for the payment of purchase of assorted grains to be distributed during Christmas and New Year on December 24, 2018.
“Look at exhibit 9, see the last transaction on page 11 of exhibit 9, see the transaction on the 24 12 2018 what is it for?”, Jacob asked.
“The last transaction is N100m, for the purchase of assorted grains for distribution during Christmas. Some of the money was withdrawn cash. My lord, you may wish to know that the account is a business account, I wait for instruction, so when the money came in, the N100 million was withdrawn by me all in cash, it was handed over to Dare Lawal by me”, the witness said.
He added that there was a cheque of N30m on page 3 of Exhibit 11 which is also paid to his company, P3 Cornerstone Account adding that the money was not used for the purpose of buying assorted grains for distribution during Christmas.
“Did you buy any grain?”, the prosecution counsel asked.
“No Sir”, he responded
Justice Oriji thereafter adjourned the matter to July 14, 2026, for continuation of trial.
