A prosecution witness has testified that officials in the administration of former Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, frequently used his bank accounts to receive and disburse government funds through verbal instructions.
The witness made the disclosure during ongoing court proceedings concerning alleged financial malfeasance during the former governor’s tenure. According to testimony presented in court, the arrangement involved moving public monies through private accounts without standard written documentation or institutional tracking.
The ongoing legal proceedings follow detailed investigations into financial transactions executed under the past administration in Taraba State. Anti-corruption agencies have ramped up scrutiny of sub-national expenditures, focusing particularly on the movement of state allocations and internally generated revenue through third-party conduits.
Details of the Court Testimony
During the hearing, the witness detailed how directives regarding multi-million-naira transactions were communicated directly by senior functionaries of the former state government. The accounts provided by the witness served as transient clearing houses for funds meant for official execution, bypassing established treasury single account frameworks or conventional ministry spending protocols.
Counsel representing the prosecution pressed the witness on the nature of the instructions and the specific amounts handled during the period in question. The defence team cross-examined the witness to establish the level of personal benefit derived from the transactions and to query the absence of formal memorandums of understanding or contractual agreements.
The trial forms part of wider efforts by anti-corruption authorities to recover public assets allegedly diverted through clandestine accounts across various states. Investigators maintain that the deployment of personal bank accounts for state transactions constitutes a breach of public procurement laws and financial regulations designed to ensure transparency in governance.
The court adjourned the matter to allow for further cross-examination of the witness and the presentation of additional documentary evidence by the prosecution team. Legal representatives from both sides are expected to present more witnesses as the trial progresses in the coming weeks.
Explore more News stories from Business Elites Africa.
