A prosecution witness, Taiwo Jones, told an Abuja High Court on Monday that N1.8 billion in local government funds was transferred into his private company account during the tenure of former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku.

Mr Jones, an assistant cashier in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs of Taraba, made this known while testifying in Mr Ishaku’s trial.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Mr Ishaku and Bello Yero, a former permanent secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, with criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds totalling N27 billion.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge. Led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, the witness said he received a total of 69 transfers from the Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba.

When asked to estimate the total amount, he replied, “About N1.7 to 1.8 million.”

Mr Jones said he received the funds on “the instructions of the permanent secretary (Yero) of the director of finance.

“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.

“After withdrawal, Dare Lawal, the first prosecution witness and others will confirm the money,” he said.

Justice Sylvanus Oriji asked the witness, “Who are they?”

He replied, “PS (Yero), the driver and Lawal.”

The witness added that Mr 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.

Mr Jacobs then drew the court’s attention again to a N100 million transaction into P3 Cornerstone’s account, evidenced by an e-payment advice dated December 24, 2018.

He asked the witness to provide details for the transaction.

The witness said the transaction was prepared by the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs of Taraba and authorised by two signatories.

The transaction narration, he said, was for the purchase of assorted grains to be distributed during Christmas and the New Year.

“The money was not spent on buying assorted grains. Instead, I withdraw the money and hand it over to Lawal,” he added.

The witness also said he received N30 million from the Donga Local Government Area of Taraba’s salary transmission account.

Mr Oriji adjourned the continuation of the trial until Tuesday. 

(NAN)