A prosecution witness, Mr. Taiwo Jones has told an Abuja High Court that N1.8billion local government funds was transferred into his private company account during the tenure of former Governor Darius Ishaku.
Jones, an assistant cashier in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs of Taraba State, made this known while testifying in the trial of Ishaku.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, charged Ishaku and a former Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Bello Yero, with criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds to the tune of N27billion.
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 Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba.
When asked to estimate the total amount, he replied, “about N1.7 to 1. 8 million.”
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.
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Justice Sylvanus Oriji asked the witness, “Who are they?”
He replied: “Yero, the driver and Lawal.”
The witness added that Yero sometimes takes the cash to Taraba Government House.
“I know about this because I sometimes drive Yero to the Government house with the money inside Ghana-must-go bag.”
Jacobs then drew the court’s attention again to a N100 million transaction into P3 Cornerstone’s account, as an e-payment advice on Dec. 24, 2018.
He asked the witness to provide details for the transaction.
The witness said this transaction was prepared by the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs of Taraba and authorized 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.
The witness also said he received N30 million from the Donga Local Government Area of Taraba salary transmission account.
Justice Oriji adjourned the continuation of trial until Tuesday.
NAN
