ABUJA, NIGERIA — Shocking details have emerged at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, on how the sum of ₦1.8 billion meant for the purchase of welfare grains for the citizens of Taraba State during the Christmas and New Year celebrations was allegedly siphoned into a private company account.
The revelations were made on Monday, July 13, 2026, during the ongoing trial of the former Governor of Taraba State, Darius Dickson Ishaku, and the former Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero. Both are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 15-count charge bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and conversion of public funds to the tune of ₦27 billion.
69 Outflows From a Single Local Government Account
Testifying before Justice S.C. Oriji, the third prosecution witness (PW3), Taiwo Johns, managing director of P3 Cornerstone International Nigeria Limited, gave a step-by-step breakdown of how his company’s account was utilized as a conduit pipe to move the massive funds.
Led in evidence by EFCC’s seasoned prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Johns confessed that roughly ₦1.7 billion to ₦1.8 billion was systematically transferred into his corporate account across 69 different transactions. Remarkably, all 69 inflows originated from the Salary Transmission Account of Gassol Local Government Area in Taraba State.
“All the money paid to P3 Cornerstone was based on the directive of my boss, Alhaji Bello Yero, the Permanent Secretary; Babangida Hassan, the Director of Finance; and John Columba, the Chief Cashier, my immediate boss,” Johns stated in open court.
Cash in ‘Ghana-Must-Go’ Bags Handed Over at Government House
When questioned by the prosecution counsel on what transpired after the funds hit his company’s account, the witness painted a vivid picture of cash movements.
Johns revealed that he operated purely on instructions from the high-ranking officials. Upon receiving the funds, he would withdraw the money in cash. He recounted that on multiple occasions, he personally drove the second defendant, Bello Yero, to the Taraba State Government House to deliver the cash.
“Sometimes I will carry him, the second defendant, and drop him at the government house with the money in a ‘Ghana Must Go’ bag, drop him and then go,” the witness testified.
The ₦100 Million “Christmas Grains” That Never Existed
A specific instance highlighted during Monday’s proceedings involved an inflow of ₦100 million into the P3 Cornerstone account on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2018.
The transaction narration on the official e-payment document indicated that the multi-million naira sum was authorized by the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for the explicit “purchase of assorted grains to be distributed during Christmas and New Year.”
However, when asked pointedly by Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, if any grains were ever bought with the money, the witness responded with a blunt, “No Sir.” Instead, Johns told the court that he withdrew the entire ₦100 million in raw cash and handed it over directly to another individual identified as Dare Lawal (PW1). He further identified a separate cheque of ₦30 million paid to his company under the same guise, which was similarly diverted.
Trial Adjourned
The systematic bleeding of the local government accounts, which were originally intended for staff salaries, grassroots development revenue, and public welfare, forms the core of the EFCC’s ₦27 billion case against the former governor and his co-defendant.
Following the extensive testimony of PW3, Justice S.C. Oriji adjourned the matter to Tuesday, July 14, 2026, for the continuation of the trial and further cross-examination. 247ureports.com will be live at the court to bring you updates as more witnesses unmask the financial dealings of the past administration.
