Alleged N27bn Fraud: I didn’t receive payment instructions from ex-governor Ishaku, but his co-accused

A Taraba State Government cashier told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja on Wednesday that he never had any interraction with former Governor Darius Ishaku throughout the time he received funds suspected to be diverted from the state’s coffers into his accounts.

But the prosecution witness repeatedly said he received instructions regarding the suspicious payments from Mr Ishaku’s co-defendant with whom the former governor is facing charges of diverting N27 billion belonging to the state.

Taiwo Jones, the third prosecution witness brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said this while continuing his part-heard testimony on Wednesday.

During the proceedings, Mr Jones, who has been testifying since June, fielded questions under cross-examination by Mr Ishaku’s lawyer, Chris Umar, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Mr Jones had detailied during previous proceeedings how he received funds from Taraba State local governments into his company’s bank account.

EFCC suspects the funds are part of the N27 billion Mr Ishaku and his co-defendant, Bello Yero, diverted from Taraba State’s coffers.

The anti-graft agency accused Governor Ishaku and Mr Yero, then-Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs of Taraba State, of diverting N27 billion belonging to the state government and some local governments in the state.

Mr Ishaku, who governed Taraba State between May 2015 and May 2023, and his co-accused face 15 counts of criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds to the tune of N27 billion for personal use.

The duo denied the allegations.

In July, Mr Jones confirmed receiving N1.8 billion through his company’s account on Mr Yero’s instruction for onward disbursements to others.

He told the court that he ran a company, P3 International, which he used for his farming business before joining the civil service as an assistant cashier in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs of Taraba State.

On 5 October, the witness narrated how Taraba State’s Local Government subvention funds were sent into his company’s account.

Continuing his testimony the following day, 6 October, he said some funds were sent into two of his personal accounts, and Mr Yero gave verbal instructions to disburse the funds.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, defence lawyer Mr Umar, attempting to exonerate the former governor, asked Mr Jones whether Mr Ishaku also gave him verbal instructions. The witness said no.

Mr Jones went on to tell the court that he had no personal and social relationship with the former governor.

“The first defendant (Mr Ishaku) was not working with the Bureau (in Taraba). He never gave me any instructions.

“I don’t have any personal or social relationship with the first defendant,” the witness said.

When asked to confirm the total amount of money from the Taraba State Government into all his accounts, Mr Jones said he could not.

Answering further questions, the witness stated that he held a master’s degree in business administration and accounting and was a qualified chartered accountant. He added that he was well aware of both civil service rules and professional standards.

Asked by the defence lawyer, Mr Umar said he would not do anything contrary to the rules.

Yero’s instructions, business relationship, connection with governor’s office

The witness noted that he disbursed funds on the instruction of his superiors, including Mr Yero.

He maintained in his 6 October testimony that he disbursed the funds on the instructions of Mr Yero, Chief Cashier John Columba, and Director of Finance in the state, Babangida Hassan.

He said he also handed funds to Mr Babangida and the ALGON chairman in the state, but added, “I did not hand over money to the second defendant but to Dare Lawal, but he (Mr Yero) was always there to confirm.”

The witness also confirmed driving Mr Yero on some occasions with a ‘Ghana-Must-Go’ bag to the Government House in Taraba.

“I never followed the second defendant into the governor’s office,” he said, adding, “I was not inside the governor’s office with him. I wouldn’t know if the funds taken to Government House were used to pay some people.”

He also disclosed that he had a business relationship with Mr Yero.

According to him, they founded Octopus Farm Nigeria Limited and were both signatories to the company’s account with United Bank for Africa (UBA).

“Beyond civil service, I am a business partner with the second defendant, and that was before I joined civil service,” he said.

Trial judge Slyvanus Oriji adjourned the case till Thursday (22 October).

READ ALSO; Ex-Taraba Gov Ishaku administration’s officials used my bank accounts to receive, disburse funds – Witness

Key testimonies from previous hearings

Dare Lawal and Prince Onwuzurike earlier testified in the trial as the first and second prosecution witnesses, respectively.

The narrated to the court in their separate testimpnies their roles in the disbursement of the funds for which the EFCC is prosecuting former Governor Ishaku and Mr Yero.

Mr Lawal worked previously for former Governor Ishaku’s private business before serving as his personal assistant during his governorship, and testified almost throughout last year.

He testified elaborately on how he received millions from various state government officials, including Mr Yero, on behalf of Mr Ishaku.

Testifying as the second prosecution witness in February, Mr Onwuzurike, who alluded to his personal relationship with Mr Yero, told the court that he received money through his account and withdrew it on the directives of Mr Yero.