An FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, heard on Monday that approximately N1.8 billion belonging to Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State was transferred into the bank account of a company owned by a government official during the administration of former Governor Darius Ishaku.
Witness Details Fund Transfers
Taiwo Jones, an assistant cashier in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs of Taraba State, testified as the third prosecution witness. He told the court that his company, P3 Cornerstone Limited, received the funds in multiple tranches on the instructions of the then-Permanent Secretary Bello Yero. Jones stated that he disbursed the money according to Yero's directives and sometimes handed over cash directly to Yero. He also mentioned driving Yero to the Government House, the governor's official residence, to deliver cash.
Yero and former Governor Ishaku are jointly standing trial on charges of diverting approximately N27 billion belonging to the state government and local governments for personal use. Jones confirmed receiving N1.8 billion through his company's account on Yero's instruction for onward disbursement.
On 16 June, Jones had testified that he ran P3 Cornerstone Limited, a farming business, before joining the civil service. He said senior officials including John Columba, Babangida Hassan, and Yero asked him to provide his account details. He also detailed other similar transactions involving transfers of local government funds into his company's account.
Details of Fund Disbursement
During Monday's proceedings, Jones estimated the total amount received at about N1.7 billion to N1.8 billion from 69 transfers from Gassol Local Government Area. He said he received the funds on instructions from Yero, Columba, or Hassan. He would inform them when the money entered his account, then receive further directives to send it to Prince Onwuzunike (the second prosecution witness) in Abuja or to withdraw some. After withdrawal, Yero, his driver, and Dare Lawal (first prosecution witness) would confirm and take the money.
Jones also said Yero sometimes took the cash to the Government House, and he knew this because he drove Yero there with the money in a 'Ghana-must-go bag'. He disclosed that the money came from the salary transmission account of Gassol LGA, which is used for salaries, projects, and revenue. The prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs SAN, asked if Jones had any contract with Gassol LGA, and he replied that he had none.
Specific Transactions Highlighted
Jacobs drew attention to a N100 million payment into P3 Cornerstone's account on 24 December 2018. Jones said this transaction was prepared by the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and authorized by two signatories. The transaction narration read 'For the purchase of assorted grains to be distributed during Christmas and New Year.' Jones said the funds were not used for that purpose; instead, he withdrew the cash and gave it to Lawal. He also received N30 million from Donga Local Government Area's salary transmission account.
The trial judge, Sylvanus Oriji, adjourned the case until Tuesday, 14 July. So far, three witnesses have testified: Ismail Lawal, Prince Onwuzunike, and Taiwo Jones. Lawal, a former personal assistant to Ishaku, testified on how he received millions from state officials including Yero on behalf of Ishaku. Onwuzunike, who has a personal relationship with Yero, told the court he received money through his account and withdrew it on Yero's directives.
