Ishaku’s N27bn Fraud Trial: Witness Details Alleged Transfers of Taraba Funds to Private Account

A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku and former Permanent Secretary of the state’s Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja how funds allegedly meant for local governments were transferred into a private company’s account and subsequently withdrawn.

The witness, Taiwo Johns, gave the testimony on Monday, October 5, 2026, while appearing as the third prosecution witness before Justice S.C. Oriji.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said Johns was led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN. Ishaku and Yero are facing trial over an alleged N27 billion fraud.

Johns told the court that several sums described as Federal Government subventions were transferred by local governments into the account of his company, P3 Cornerstone. He said he subsequently reported the transactions to officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and was instructed on several occasions to withdraw the funds in cash or transfer them to designated accounts.

The witness cited a N50 million transaction from Yoro Local Government into P3 Cornerstone’s account on October 11, 2019. According to him, after reporting the transaction to the Permanent Secretary, he was instructed to withdraw the money.

Johns said the Permanent Secretary subsequently came to the bank, where he handed over the cash to the Permanent Secretary and Dare Lawal.

He also testified about a separate N58.5 million deposit, which he said he reported to the Permanent Secretary and Babangida Hassan, the Director of Finance.

The witness referred the court to Exhibit 11, which he said contained a N64.95 million cheque from Gassol Local Government dated November 5, 2019. He added that N1.45 million was transferred to P3 Cornerstone on the same day and subsequently paid into an emirate and traditional council account used for salaries, allowances and medical expenses for emirs and chiefs.

Johns further described transactions involving Ardo Kola and Gassol local governments.

He told the court that Ardo Kola Local Government issued a N55 million manager’s cheque on November 28, 2019, while N62 million was transferred to P3 Cornerstone by Gassol Local Government on the same day.

According to the witness, N50 million from the Gassol transaction was withdrawn and handed over to the Permanent Secretary at a United Bank for Africa (UBA) branch, while N5.6 million was transferred to an individual identified as Prince.

Johns also testified about another Gassol Local Government transaction involving more than N30 million on December 2, 2019. He said N17.38 million and N13.12 million were deposited into P3 Cornerstone’s account, bringing the total to N30.5 million.

He said he reported the transaction to the company’s Director of Finance, Babangida Hassan, who instructed him to withdraw the funds. According to Johns, the money was subsequently handed over to Hassan and Dare Lawal.

The witness also described transactions involving P3 Cornerstone in March and September 2020.

He said the company received N11.35 million, N75 million and N2.5 million on March 23, 2020, with additional transactions recorded the following day.

Johns further testified that P3 Cornerstone received N39.999 million on September 14, 2020, while another N39.9995 million was received from Zing Local Government. He added that N7.85 million was also received from Yoro Local Government on the same day.

According to the witness, funds received into P3 Cornerstone’s account were subsequently withdrawn and handed over to the Permanent Secretary, while some were transferred to an individual identified as Prince.

Johns, however, told the court that he did not know the specific purposes for which the subventions were intended.

Following his testimony, the prosecution tendered additional documents, which were admitted in evidence and marked as Exhibits 13, 14 and 15.

Justice Oriji adjourned the case until Tuesday, October 6, 2026, for continuation of the evidence of the third prosecution witness.