A prosecution witness, Taiwo Jones, has told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in Abuja that about ₦1.8 billion in local government funds was transferred into his private company account during the tenure of former Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku.
Jones, an assistant cashier in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs of Taraba State, testified on Monday in the ongoing trial of Ishaku and Bello Yero, a former Permanent Secretary of the bureau.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Ishaku and Yero on charges bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds totalling ₦27 billion.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, the witness told the court that he received several transfers from local government accounts into his private company account.
Jones said he received a total of 69 transfers from Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State.
When asked to estimate the total amount received, he said it was about ₦1.7 billion to ₦1.8 billion.
He told the court that the funds were received on the instructions of the former Permanent Secretary, Yero, and the Director of Finance.
According to him, after the money entered his account, he would inform them and subsequently receive further instructions on whether to send the money to one “Prince” in Abuja or withdraw part of it in cash.
“I inform them when the money hits my account, and they will give me further directives to send it to Prince in Abuja or to withdraw some,” he said.
Jones added that after withdrawals were made, Dare Lawal, the first prosecution witness, and others would confirm the cash.
Justice Sylvanus Oriji then asked the witness to identify the persons he referred to.
The witness replied that they included the Permanent Secretary, Yero, the driver and Lawal.
Jones further told the court that Yero sometimes took the cash to the Taraba State Government House.
“I know about this because I sometimes drive the PS to the Government House with the money inside a Ghana-must-go bag,” he said.
The prosecution also drew the court’s attention to a ₦100 million transaction into the account of P3 Cornerstone, supported by an e-payment advice dated December 24, 2018.
Asked to explain the transaction, Jones said it was prepared by the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs of Taraba State and authorised by two signatories.
He said the narration on the transaction indicated that the money was for the purchase of assorted grains to be distributed during Christmas and New Year.
However, the witness told the court that the money was not used to buy assorted grains.
“The money was not spent on buying assorted grains. Instead, I withdrew the money and handed it over to Lawal,” he said.
Jones also testified that he received ₦30 million from the Donga Local Government Area salary transmission account.
Justice Oriji adjourned the matter until Tuesday for continuation of trial.
TNL had earlier reported that Ishaku and Yero are facing charges before Justice Oriji over alleged criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds amounting to ₦27 billion.
In an earlier proceeding, the court adjourned the case after counsel representing Yero withdrew from the matter.
The defendants have not been convicted of the allegations.
