A prosecution witness, Emmanuel Onwuzurike, on Monday testified in the FCT High Court about how money was moved from companies, local government areas (LGAs), and individuals to the former governor of Taraba, Darius Ishaku’s aide.
Mr Ishaku and a former permanent secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Taraba, Bello Yero, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They are 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 N27 billion.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
At the resumed hearing, Mr Onwuzurike, the second prosecution witness (PW2), told the court that he received millions of naira from Gashaka and Yorro LGAs and from P3 Cornerstone.
He also added Taiwo Jones and John Columba between 2017 and 2019 through his account, which was domiciled at Zenith Bank.
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 Mr Ishaku’s former personal assistant.
Mr Onwuzurike, who started his testimony in December, detailed how he allegedly received multiple payments from various Taraba State LGAs between 2015 and 2019.
The witness said, “I received N4 million from Taiwo Jones on November 6, 2017, and N10 million, N9 million, N9 million, N9 million, and N4.3 million on November 10, 2017.
“It was withdrawn in cash and given to Ismail Lawal.”
Mr Onwuzurike said that on February 6, 2018, he received two credit entries amounting to N14 million from P3 Cornerstone and N6.6 million from Mr Jones.
He then, according to him, withdrew over N20 million and handed it to Mr Lawal.
There were similar entries and withdrawals in April, May, September, and November 2018.
On April 4, 2019, Mr Onwuzurike said he received N16 million from Mr Columba and N10.7 million from Mr Jones. He also withdrew over N50 million, which he handed to Mr Lawal.
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 N28.5 million from Yorro LGA.
Mr Onwuzurike told the court that in 2016, he received lesser sums from Mr 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,” he said.
Mr Oriji adjourned the testimony until Tuesday for cross-examination.
(NAN)
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