The single sharpest fact in one or two

punchy sentences. Who did what, where, when, and why it matters. A top official in Taraba State revealed in court on Monday that N1.8 billion belonging to Gassol Local Government Area was transferred into his company's account during ex-Governor Darius Ishaku's tenure.

### The official, Taiwo Jones, told the court that the instructions to transfer the funds came from the then-Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero.

### Taiwo Jones works as an assistant cashier in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs of Taraba State.

His company, P3 Cornerstone Limited, received the N1.8 billion in tranches at various times, according to Jones' testimony.

He disbursed the money based on Yero's instructions, and in some cases, handed some of the funds in cash directly to Yero.

Jones also revealed that he sometimes drove Yero to the Government House with the money in a 'Ghana-must-go bag'.

These developments are part of the ongoing trial of Messrs Ishaku and Yero over the diversion of about N27 billion belonging to the state government and some local governments.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the duo on charges of criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and fraudulent conversion of state funds.

Led in evidence by EFCC's lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Jones said on Monday that he received a total of 69 transfers from Gassol Local Government Area.

When asked to estimate the total amount, he replied, 'about N1.7 billion or N1.8 billion.'

### The trial judge, Sylvanus Oriji, asked the witness, 'Who are they?'

The witness also gave details of other similar transactions involving transfers of local government funds into his company's account.

During Monday's proceedings, he put the total amount of money involved at about N1.8 billion, and painted a picture of how some of the funds allegedly circulated back to Yero and the Taraba State Government House.

These transactions form part of the N27 billion the EFCC is prosecuting Messrs Ishaku and Yero for.

Mr Yero was the Permanent Secretary, Taraba State Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, during Mr Ishaku's reign as governor between 2015 and 2023.

According to the EFCC, the duo diverted the money from the contingency funds belonging to the state's Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and certain local governments in the state for their private use.

Jones revealed that he received a N100 million paid into P3 Cornerstone's account as an e-payment advice on 24 December 2018.

He said this transaction was prepared by the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs of Taraba State and authorised by two signatories.

He gave their names but explained that the funds were not used to buy the assorted grains. Instead, he said he withdrew the cash and gave it to Dare Lawal, a first prosecution witness.

### The trial continues on Tuesday at the FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja.

### ## Key Facts

  • $N1.8 billion transferred to P3 Cornerstone Limited
  • 69 transfers from Gassol Local Government Area
  • Total amount involved: about N1.7 billion or N1.8 billion
  • Mr Yero sometimes carried the money to the Government House in a 'Ghana-must-go bag'
  • Transaction involving N100 million paid into P3 Cornerstone's account on 24 December 2018