Darius Ishaku Trial: Witness says N1.8bn Taraba Christmas Grains Fund was Diverted into His Account

Taiwo Johns, an official of the Taraba Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, has narrated how N1.8 billion meant for the purchase of Christmas grains in the state was transferred into his company’s account.

Johns appeared before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court on Monday in the ongoing trial of Darius Ishaku, former governor of Taraba, and Bello Yero, the state’s former permanent secretary in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

Ishaku and Yero are facing trial on a 15-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds. They have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Ishaku served as governor of Taraba from 2015 to 2023.

Led in evidence by Rotimi Jacobs, the prosecution counsel, 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 Yero, his former boss and the second defendant.

The witness said the funds were transferred from Gassol LGA’s account to his company’s account in 69 transactions.

He told the court that the transfers were made on the instruction of Yero, Babangida Hassan, the bureau’s director of finance, and John Columba, the chief cashier.

The prosecution counsel then asked the witness what he did after the funds were credited to his company’s account.

“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 answered.

He said the former permanent secretary took some of the money to the government house.

Asked how he knew the money was taken to the government house, the witness said he drove Yero there with a “Ghana must go bag’ containing the cash.

The witness said the money credited to his account in 69 transactions came from Gassol LGA’s salary transmission account, which was used for salaries, projects, revenue and other purposes.

He said N100 million was paid into his company’s account on December 24, 2018, through an e-payment prepared by the bureau and authorised by its two signatories – the then permanent secretary and director of finance.

The witness said the narration on the e-payment stated that it was for the purchase of assorted grains to be distributed during Christmas and New Year celebrations on December 24, 2018.

“The last transaction is N100m, 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 N100 million was withdrawn by me all in cash; it was handed over to Dare Lawal by me.”

When asked if he purchased any grain, he responded, “No, sir.”

S.C. Oriji, the presiding judge, adjourned the case to July 14.