Alleged N27bn Fraud Trial: I disbursed funds on orders from ex-gov Ishaku’s perm sec – Witness

Ishaku

A prosecution witness on Wednesday told the FCT High Court in Abuja that he disbursed money on the instructions of former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku’s co-defendant.

Prince Onwuzunike, the second prosecution witness, said he received money through his account and withdrew it based on the directives of Bello Yero, who was Permanent Secretary, Taraba State Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs during Mr Ishaku’s reign as governor.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Messrs Ishaku and Yero on charges of criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and fraudulent conversion of N27 billion belonging to Taraba State.

According to the EFCC, the two defendants diverted the money from the contingency funds belonging to the state’s Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, as well as certain local governments in the states, for their private use.

They both denied EFCC’s allegations.

Earlier on Monday, Mr Onwuzunike provided details of how he allegedly received funds from some local governments in Taraba State, as well as from individuals and a company associated with the Taraba State Government or its officials during the administration of the former governor.

Under cross-examined on Thursday, he told the court that the disbursement, “Depended on my Oga’s (Yero) instructions.”