The trial of former Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, over an alleged N27 billion fraud continued on Monday before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, with a prosecution witness testifying that funds from local governments in the state were paid into his private account and disbursed based on instructions from government officials.

The witness, Taiwo Johns, who testified as the third prosecution witness (PW3), told Justice S.C. Oriji that he received funds from local government councils into his company account and acted on directives from officials of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs regarding how the money should be disbursed.

Ishaku, the first defendant, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside a former Permanent Secretary in the bureau, Bello Yero, over a 15-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and alleged conversion of public funds amounting to N27 billion.

Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, the witness said he used his company account, P3 International, for farming activities before joining the civil service as an Assistant Cashier in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

According to him, senior officials, including former Chief Cashier John Columba, former Director of Finance Babangida Hassan, and former Permanent Secretary Bello Yero, directed him to submit his account details to receive funds from local governments.

“They asked me to submit the account number so that some money would be sent to me and that I should await further instruction on what to do with the money,” the witness told the court.

He stated that after receiving funds into the account, he would notify his superiors and await instructions on whether to withdraw the money in cash or transfer it to designated accounts.

“Sometimes when money comes into the account, I withdraw it or leave it in the bank and wait for further instruction. Sometimes, I am given account numbers to lodge the money, while on other occasions, I hand over the cash to designated persons,” he testified.

Johns further told the court that instructions regarding the disbursement of funds came from the permanent secretary, the director of finance or other senior officials within the bureau.

The witness gave details of several transactions, including payments made to the second prosecution witness, Prince Onwuzuruike.

He testified that on November 20, 2017, he transferred a total of N5.25 million to Onwuzuruike following instructions after receiving funds from a local government council. 

He also disclosed that on February 6, 2018, he received N7.75 million and was directed to transfer N6.25 million to the same recipient.

According to the witness, additional funds amounting to several millions of naira were credited to his account in April 2018, some of which were withdrawn in cash or transferred to designated beneficiaries based on instructions from superiors.

Justice Oriji subsequently adjourned the matter until July 7, 2026, for continuation of trial.