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A cashier from the Taraba State Government told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja on Wednesday that he never spoke to former Governor Darius Ishaku while receiving funds suspected to be stolen from the state into his accounts.
But the witness said he got instructions about the suspicious payments from Mr Ishaku’s co-defendant, who is also facing charges over the alleged diversion of N27 billion belonging to the state.
Taiwo Jones, the third witness from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), made this claim while continuing his testimony on Wednesday.
During the court session, Mr Jones, who has been testifying since June, answered questions from Mr Ishaku’s lawyer, Chris Umar, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
In earlier sessions, Mr Jones explained how he received funds from local governments in Taraba State into his company’s bank account. The EFCC believes these funds are part of the N27 billion that Mr Ishaku and his co-defendant, Bello Yero, allegedly stole from Taraba State’s treasury.
The anti-corruption agency accused Governor Ishaku and Mr Yero, who was the Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs of Taraba State, of misappropriating N27 billion meant for the state government and local governments.
Mr Ishaku, who served as governor from May 2015 to May 2023, and Mr Yero face 15 charges, including criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and converting public funds for personal use. Both men have denied the charges.
In July, Mr Jones confirmed that he received N1.8 billion through his company’s account based on Mr Yero’s orders for further distribution to others.
He told the court that he runs a company called 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 October 5, the witness explained how the Local Government funds from Taraba State were deposited into his company’s account. Continuing his testimony on October 6, he stated that some funds were also sent to two of his personal accounts, with Mr Yero giving verbal orders for disbursement.
During Wednesday's session, the defence lawyer, Mr Umar, tried to clear Mr Ishaku’s name by asking Mr Jones if he received any verbal instructions from Mr Ishaku. The witness replied no.
Mr Jones told the court that he had no personal or social relationship with the former governor. He said, “The first defendant (Mr Ishaku) was not working with the Bureau in Taraba. He never gave me any instructions.”
He added, “I don’t have any personal or social relationship with the first defendant.” When asked about the total amount of money from the Taraba State Government in all his accounts, Mr Jones said he was unsure.
The witness went on to say that he holds a master’s degree in business administration and accounting and is a qualified chartered accountant. He noted that he understands both civil service rules and professional standards.
When asked by the defence lawyer, Mr Umar, if he would do anything against the rules, he replied that he would not. He insisted that he disbursed funds only on the orders of his superiors, including Mr Yero.
In his October 6 testimony, he maintained that he followed the instructions of Mr Yero, Chief Cashier John Columba, and Director of Finance in the state, Babangida Hassan.
He also said he handed over 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 that he drove Mr Yero to the Government House in Taraba on some occasions with a ‘Ghana-Must-Go’ bag. He stated, “I never followed the second defendant into the governor’s office. 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 revealed that he had a business relationship with Mr Yero. They co-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 postponed the case until Thursday, October 22.
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