Alleged N27bn fraud: How money moved from different accounts to ex-Taraba governor’s aide

A prosecution witness, Emmanuel Onwuzurike, on Monday, told an Abuja Court testified on how money was moved from companies, , Local Government Areas (LGA), and individuals to former governor of Taraba, Darius Ishaku’s Aide.

Ishaku and a former permanent secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Bello Yero, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

They are before standing trial before Justice Sylvanus Oriji, on a 15-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds to the tune of N27billion.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

At the resumed hearing, Onwuzurike, second prosecution witness,(PW2 told the court that he received millions of naira from Gashaka and Yorro LGAs, P3 Cornerstone.

He added also, from Taiwo Jones, and John Columba between 2017 and 2019 through his account, which was domiciled in Zenith Bank.
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Led in evidence by Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, prosecution counsel, the witness said that following the credit entries, he made cash withdrawals.

He added that the cash withdrawals were delivered to Ismail Lawal, the first prosecution witness and Ishaku’s former personal assistant.
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Onwuzunike, who started his testimony since Dec detailed how he allegedly received multiple payments from various Taraba State LGAs, between 2015–2019
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The witness said, “I received N4million from Taiwo Jones on Nov 6 2017, N10 million, N9 million, N9million, N9million and N4.3 million on Nov 10, 2017.
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“It was withdrawn in cash and given to Ismail Lawal.”
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Onwuzurike said on Feb.6, 2018, he received two credit entries amounting to N14million from P3 Cornerstone and N6.6million from Jones.

He then according to him, withdrew over N20 million and handed it to Lawal.
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There were similar entries and withdrawals in April, May, September and November 2018.
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On April 4, 2019, Onwuzurike said he received N16 million from Columba and N10.7 million from Jones.
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He also withdrew over N50 million, which he handed to Lawal.
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There were also other entries from P3 Cornerstone in April 2019, then in July 2019, the witness said he received N25 million from Gashaka LGA and N28.5million from Yorro LGA.
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Onwuzurike told the court that in 2016, he received lesser sums from Jones.

” The small sums were sent to me to buy things for the message he ( Jones) sent me,” while other credits that were not linked to Taraba State or individuals already mentioned, “those ones are for my business.”
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Justice Oriji, after his testimony adjourned until Tuesday for cross-examination.