{"id":128367,"date":"2026-07-15T03:10:40","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T02:10:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=128367"},"modified":"2026-07-15T03:10:40","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T02:10:40","slug":"n27bn-fraud-trial-how-ex-taraba-governor-channelled-lg-funds-through-own-company-witness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/pointblanknews-investigations\/n27bn-fraud-trial-how-ex-taraba-governor-channelled-lg-funds-through-own-company-witness\/","title":{"rendered":"N27bn Fraud Trial: How ex-Taraba Governor Channelled LG Funds Through Own Company-Witness\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
By Lizzy Chirkpi<\/strong><\/div>\n
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ABUJA \u2014 The trial of former Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, over an alleged N27 billion fraud continued on Tuesday at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, with a prosecution witness detailing how funds from several local government councils were allegedly channelled through his company for the purchase and distribution of Christmas grains.<\/p>\n

The witness, Taiwo Johns, who testified as the third prosecution witness (PW3) before Justice S.C. Oriji, said transfers into the account of his company, P3 Cornerstone Nigeria Limited, were made on the instructions of senior officials in the Taraba State Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.<\/p>\n

According to him, the directives came from the then Permanent Secretary in the bureau, Bello Yero, alongside the Director of Finance, Babangida Hassan, and the Chief Cashier, John Columba.<\/p>\n

“All the money paid to P3 Cornerstone was based on the directives of my boss, Alhaji Bello Yero, the permanent secretary; Babangida Hassan, the director of finance and John Columba, the chief cashier, who was my immediate boss,” he told the court.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Johns, who is testifying in the trial of Ishaku and Yero, narrated a series of transactions involving funds allegedly transferred from various local government councils into his company’s account before being withdrawn in cash.<\/p>\n

He told the court that Donga Local Government transferred N30 million into the company’s account on July 1, 2019, after which he was instructed to withdraw the entire amount.<\/p>\n

“On the same day… a directive came from director of finance, Babangida Hassan, that I should withdraw the N30 million in cash and I went to the bank with Dare Lawal and I handed over the money to him,” he said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The witness further testified that Donga Local Government later transferred another N8 million, while Yorro Local Government paid N3 million into the account. He said he withdrew the funds and handed them over to the permanent secretary before driving him to the Government House.<\/p>\n

Johns also told the court that on July 24, 2019, two separate transfers of N10 million each were made into the company’s account, adding that he withdrew the funds in cash in line with instructions from his superiors.<\/p>\n

He further alleged that Gashaka, Donga and Zing local government councils subsequently transferred a combined N110 million into the account.<\/p>\n

“I withdrew the same amount and the permanent secretary came to the bank with Dare Lawal and they confirmed it and collected it,” he said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The witness also testified that additional transfers were received from Gassol, Bali and Ardo Kola local government councils, while cashiers from six different local governments collectively deposited about N51.8 million into the company’s account.<\/p>\n

“Most of the money was sent to Blessed Springs account,” he added.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Following the witness’s testimony, counsel to the first defendant, Chris A. Umar (SAN), applied for leave for the former governor to travel to Dubai for medical examination and surgery.<\/p>\n

The prosecution did not oppose the application.<\/p>\n

Justice Oriji subsequently granted the request and adjourned the case until\u00a0October 5, 2026<\/strong>, for the continuation of the prosecution witness’s examination<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n