Ishaku Trial: EFCC Witness Says He Acted On Orders In ₦27bn Fund Transfers As Ex-Governor Faces Trial
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Oscar Okhifo
The trial of former Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, continued on Monday before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with a prosecution witness telling the court that local government funds running into billions of naira were allegedly routed through his private account on the instructions of senior state officials.
NAIJAONPOINT , testifying under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, said he acted strictly on directives from the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs on how the funds were disbursed.
The defendants are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 15-count charge bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and the alleged diversion of about ₦27 billion in public funds.
The Third Prosecution Witness (PW3), Taiwo Johns, told the court that he was instructed to provide his bank account details and await further directives on how any funds received were to be handled, saying he complied fully with instructions from senior officials in the bureau.
He said: “They asked me to submit the account number so that some money will be sent to me and that I should await further instruction on what to do with the money. A few days later, some amount of money was sent to the account by the local government.”
According to him, every transaction was reported through the chain of command before any action was taken on the funds.
He stated: “When the money entered my account, I reported to my chief cashier, John Columba before I reported to Babangida Hassan and he reported to Bello Yero before I was given a directive on where to pay the money.”
Under cross-examination by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, NAIJAONPOINT told the court that he handled the funds strictly based on instructions received at each stage.
He said: “Sometimes when money comes to this account, I will withdraw the money or leave it in the bank and wait for further instruction. Sometimes, I will be given the account number to lodge the money.”
He added that in some instances, cash was physically collected by officials or their representatives.
He further told the court that several transactions running into millions of naira were carried out between 2017 and 2018, including payments linked to one Prince Onwuzuruike, which he said were made strictly on directives from officials of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Justice S.C. Oriji adjourned the matter to July 7, 2026, for continuation of trial.
