A prosecution witness on Monday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, how local government funds in Taraba State were allegedly routed through a private company account and withdrawn in cash during the ongoing trial of a former governor, Darius Ishaku, and former Permanent Secretary, Bello Yero.
The witness, Taiwo Johns (PW3), said he received instructions from senior officials in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs on how funds were to be moved and disbursed after they were paid into his company account.
The case is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which alleges a conspiracy, breach of trust and conversion of public funds totalling about N27 billion.
Johns told the court that monies originating from local government allocations were sent into his private account linked to P3 International, a company he said he initially used for farming before joining the civil service.
He explained that he would either withdraw the funds in cash or transfer them to accounts supplied by officials, including directives from senior officers within the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
According to his testimony before Justice S.C. Oriji of the FCT High Court, instructions on disbursement often came through the former Chief Cashier, Director of Finance, and the Permanent Secretary, Bello Yero.
The witness added that he would report each transaction to his superiors before acting on further instructions, stating that he was frequently given account numbers for onward transfers.
Johns also recounted several transactions in 2017 and 2018 involving millions of naira, including payments directed to Prince Onwuzuruike following official instructions, and cash withdrawals allegedly carried out based on directives from finance officials.
He further told the court that funds were sometimes deposited in multiple tranches and later redistributed within the same day, depending on instructions received.
The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, led the witness during examination on how the funds were traced and moved through the account.
Justice Oriji adjourned the matter until July 7, 2026, for continuation of trial.
