How N1.8bn from Taraba LG funds ended up in my account, Official

The FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, heard on Monday that about N1.8 billion from Gassol Local Government Area in Taraba State was sent to a company owned by a government official during the time of former Governor Darius Ishaku.

The official, Taiwo Jones, who works as an assistant cashier at the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Taraba State, told the court that his company received the money in parts at different times on the orders of Bello Yero, the then-Permanent Secretary of the bureau.

He said he gave out the money based on Mr Yero’s instructions and sometimes handed cash directly to Mr Yero. Mr Jones, who is the third prosecution witness, also mentioned that he occasionally drove Mr Yero to the Government House to deliver cash he received.

Mr Yero and former Governor Ishaku are on trial for allegedly misusing about N27 billion meant for the state government and local governments for personal reasons. Mr Jones confirmed that he received N1.8 billion through his company’s account based on Mr Yero’s instructions for distribution to others as he continued his testimony on Monday.

On 16 June, Mr Jones testified that he ran a company called P3 Cornerstone Limited, which he said was involved in farming before he joined the civil service as an assistant cashier in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. He stated that senior officials from the bureau, including John Columba, Babangida Hassan, and Mr Yero (the second defendant), asked him for his account details.

He also explained other similar transactions where local government funds were transferred into his company’s account. On Monday, he said the total amount involved was about N1.8 billion and described how some of the money allegedly returned to Mr Yero and the Government House in Taraba State.

These funds are part of the N27 billion that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Mr Ishaku and Mr Yero for. They face charges of criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and fraudulent conversion of N27 billion belonging to Taraba State.

Mr Yero was the Permanent Secretary at the Taraba State Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs during Mr Ishaku’s time as governor from 2015 to 2023. The EFCC claims that the two men diverted money from contingency funds meant for the bureau and local governments in the state for their own use. They have denied these allegations.

How the money was shared

Led in evidence by EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Jones said on Monday that he received a total of 69 transfers from Gassol Local Government Area. When asked for a rough estimate of the total amount, he said, “about N1.7 billion or N1.8 billion.”

Mr Jones explained that he received the funds on “the instructions of the then-Permanent Secretary Yero, Mr Columba or the Director of Finance, Mr Hassan.” He added, “I informed them that the money had entered my account, then they would give me further instructions to send it to Prince (the second prosecution witness) in Abuja or to withdraw some.”

“After withdrawal, they came with Dare Lawal (the first prosecution witness). He confirms the money and they went away with the money.” The trial judge, Sylvanus Oriji, then asked, “Who are they?” Mr Jones replied, “Mr Yero, the driver and Mr Lawal.”

Mr Jones also mentioned that Mr Yero sometimes took cash to the Government House. He said he knew this because he sometimes drove Mr Yero to the Government House with the money in a ‘Ghana-must-go bag.’ The witness revealed that the money he got from Gassol Local Government Area came from an account called the salary transmission account of the local government.

“This account is used for salary, projects and revenue,” he added. The prosecution lawyer then tried to check the legitimacy of the transactions by asking Mr Jones if he had any contract with Gassol Local Government. He said he had none.

Mr Jacobs then pointed out a N100 million that was paid into P3 Cornerstone’s account as an e-payment advice on 24 December 2018. He asked Mr Jones for details of this transaction. Mr Jones said this transaction was set up by the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and approved by two signatories, which he named.

The transaction description read “For the purchase of assorted grains to be distributed during Christmas and New Year.” Mr Jones stated that the funds were not used for that purpose. Instead, he said he withdrew the cash and gave it to Mr Lawal. He also mentioned receiving N30 million from the Donga Local Government Area’s salary transmission account. The judge then adjourned the case until Tuesday, 14 July.

So far, three witnesses have testified in the case. The earlier witnesses are Ismail Lawal, and Prince Onwuzunike and Lawal, who spoke about their roles in the fund disbursement that the EFCC is prosecuting the former governor and his co-defendant for. Mr Lawal, the first prosecution witness, previously worked for former Governor Ishaku’s private business before becoming his personal assistant during his governorship. He testified almost throughout last year.

Mr Onwuzunike, who is the second prosecution witness, testified in February. He mentioned his personal relationship with Mr Yero and told the court that he received money through his account and withdrew it based on Mr Yero’s instructions.