Witness for the alleged N27 billion fraud case don reveal how dem take siphoned N1.8 billion wey dem earmark for Christmas grains for Taraba State. The witness, Taiwo Johns, wey be PW3, testify for Federal Capital Territory High Court Abuja before Justice C. Oriji.
Johns, wey be director of P3 Cornerstone International Nigeria Limited, say the money wey dem transfer enter im company account from one Local Government Salary Transmission Account. He say na based on directive of im boss, Alhaji Bello Yero, wey be Permanent Secretary, Babangida Hassan, Director of Finance, and John Columba, Chief Cashier.
“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 tell the court.
The witness disclose say dem transfer funds to im accounts sixty-nine times. He say “there are serial number, date of transaction, account number debited and account name, beneficiary account number, beneficiary account name and the amount.” He add say all the sixty-nine times dem send money to im company account na from Gassol local government for the state.
According to Johns, after money enter im account, he go report to im bosses, then dem go give am further directives. “I reported back to them that some money entered my account, then they gave me further directives either to send it to Mr. Prince, that is PW2, or to withdraw some and after the withdrawal they came with Dare Lawal, PW1, he will confirm the money, and they will go with the money. Sometimes, Alhaji Bello Yero, the Permanent Secretary will come and take it to the government house.”
When prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, ask am how he know say Yero take money go government house, Johns respond: “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 add say dem always use Gassol Local Government Salary Transmission Account for salary, projects, revenue and other purposes. He reveal say dem pay N100 million into im P3 Cornerstone account on December 24, 2018, wey dem prepare through Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and authorise by two signatories—the Permanent Secretary and Director of Finance.
Johns inform court say the narration on the E-payment na for purchase of assorted grains to distribute during Christmas and New Year on December 24, 2018. But when Jacobs ask am if he buy any grain, Johns answer: “No Sir.”
He explain say some of the money dem withdraw cash. “The last transaction is N100m, for the purchase of assorted grains for distribution during Christmas. Some of the money was withdrawn cash. My lord, you may wish to know that the account is a business account, I wait for instruction, so when the money came in, the N100 million was withdrawn by me all in cash, it was handed over to Dare Lawal by me.”
Johns add say there was a cheque of N30 million on page 3 of Exhibit 11 wey dem also pay to im company, P3 Cornerstone Account, but the money no use for the purpose of buying assorted grains for Christmas distribution.
Justice Oriji don adjourn the matter to July 14, 2026, for continuation of trial.
