Alleged N27b Fraud: EFCC Presents More Witnesses Against Darius Ishaku, Yero

The trial of the former Taraba State governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku alongside the former permanent secretary in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Bello Yero, before Justice S. C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Abuja, continued on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, presenting the Third Prosecution Witness, PW3, Taiwo Johns against them.

The EFCC is prosecuting both defendants on a 15-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds to the tune of N27,000,000,000.00 (Twenty-seven Billion Naira).

The testimony of the PW3, followed the conclusion of the cross-examination of the Second Prosecution Witness, PW2 Prince Emmanuel Onwuzulike, by the counsel to the second defendant, Samuel Fagade during the proceeding.

In his cross-examination, the PW2 told the court that he had a father and son relationship with Yero, the second defendant, disclosing that it was the second defendant that phoned him and asked him to disburse funds to one Lawal Damilare.

The PW2 also informed the court that he did not report to any law enforcement agency as he received some money from Johns, the PW3 who is a cashier assistant in Taraba State’s Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, disclosing also that he collected some of the money for his personal use.

“The sum of N3 million deposited is for my business; the sum of N2 million, deposited is for my business; the sum of N10 million, dated November 4, is for my business,” he said.

Further in the cross-examination, he said, “Everything I did was on instruction.”

Following the conclusion of the cross-examination, the PW3 was led in his testimony by prosecution counsel, O. A. Atolagbe. He disclosed that his duty was to assist in the raising of day-to-day vouchers; raising of payment schedules; preparing staff payroll; assisting the cashier in writing payroll cheques and accompanying the cashier to the bank for cashing of money.

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Others he disclosed include, “Payment of emirs and ‘ardos’ and disbursement of cash, if there is a courtesy call and any other duty assigned to me by my immediate bosses, Mr. John Columba, chief cashier Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Babangida Hassan, Director, Finance, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero.”

The PW3 further informed the court that the duty of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs was to take care of all the 16 local governments of the state, pay salary and allowances to emirs and chiefs, take good care of the emirs and chiefs, purchase cars for them and handle their medical requirements.

Others are, “Payment of teachers’ salaries, assisting flood disaster victims if it arises, beefing up security in the communities and local governments’ chiefdoms and if there is any other thing pertaining to local government activities,” he said.

EFCC

Asked by the prosecution counsel if he participated in the disbursing of money, he replied in the affirmative. “Yes, sometimes I give it to the ALGON Chairman, or a local government chairman, depending on where the case arises.

The name of the ALGON chairman is Agya and further disclosed that the account name from which the money is disbursed is “2.5 Percent Contingency Account, domiciled in the United Bank of Africa, UBA. The signatories to the account, he said, are the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Bello Yero and Director of Finance, Babangida Hassan.

Justice Oriji adjourned the matter till April 30 for the continuation of the examination of PW3.

Nigerian Navy Arrests Suspected Pipeline Vandals In Bayelsa

The Nigerian Navy, through personnel of Forward Operating Base (FOB) FORMOSO, has recorded a significant operational success in the ongoing fight against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta.

On 25 April 2026 at about 0300 hours, FOB FORMOSO personnel, acting on credible intelligence, conducted a well-coordinated raid at Egbama-Angalabiri in Ekeramo Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The operation led to the arrest of one Mr. Godwin, also known as “Idiot,” identified as the leader of a notorious pipeline vandalism syndicate operating within the Clough Creek axis.

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The successful operation followed sustained intelligence and surveillance which confirmed the suspect’s involvement in recent attacks on critical oil and gas infrastructure, as well as details of his residence and movement patterns. The suspect was apprehended at a nearby night market where he was reportedly extorting illegal levies from traders.

During a follow-on operation to search his residence, naval personnel encountered resistance from armed members of the syndicate. The situation was swiftly brought under control through a coordinated tactical response, forcing the assailants to withdraw.

A search of the suspect’s residence led to the recovery of two handheld radios and other technical tools used in illegal activities. Further exploitation of intelligence obtained from the suspect resulted in the arrest of another individual, Mr. Happiness, believed to be an associate, as well as the recovery of one pump-action gun.

Nigerian Navy

The arrested suspects have been handed over to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps for further investigation and prosecution.

The Nigerian Navy remains resolute in its mandate to protect the nation’s maritime domain and critical national assets.

The Service will continue to sustain aggressive operations against all forms of economic sabotage in

Alleged N1.63b Money Laundering: EFCC Re-Arraigns Bauchi Accountant-General, One Other

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, re-arraigned Bauchi State Accountant General, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja and an unlicensed Bureau de Change operator, Aliyu Abubakar of Jasfad Resources Enterprises, before Justice O. A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The duo were re-arraigned on amended five-count charge, bordering on conversion of public funds belonging to Bauchi State Government, and money laundering to the tune of N1, 635, 270, 350.9k (One billion, Six Hundred and Thirty-five million, Two hundred and seventy thousand, Three hundred and fifty Naira, Nine kobo).

They were earlier arraigned on April 7, 2025, with Jaja as the first defendant, while Abubakar was the second, however, in the amended charge, marked FHC/ABJCR/101/2025, dated, January 5, 2026, and filed on the same date, Abubakar, trading under the name of Jasfad Resources Enterprise became the first defendant and Jaja, the second.

Early in the proceedings, prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed, SAN, informed the court that the prosecution has filed a second amended charge and prayed the court for the defendants to take their plea.

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Count two of the charge reads, “That you Aliyu Abubakar (trading under the name and style of “Jasfad Resources Enterprises” a purported Bureau de Change operator), Sirajo Muhammad Jaja (Accountant General of Bauchi State), Abubakar Muhammad Hafiz (at large), between 29 October, 2024 and 31st December, 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit an offence to wit: money laundering by converting the sum of One Billion, Two Hundred and Ninety Million, One hundred and Fifty four thousand, Three hundred and Thirty seven Naira, Two kobo (N1, 290,154,337.2) of public funds, belonging to Bauchi State Government which you transferred from the Bauchi State Sub-Treasury Account, domiciled in United Bank for Africa with account number 1018819396 into the bank account of Jasfad Resources Enterprise domiciled in United Bank for Africa with account number 1023444660 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(b) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering(Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count three reads; “That you Aliyu Abubakar (trading under the name and style of of “Jasfad Resources Enterprises” a purported Bureau de Change operator), Sirajo Muhammad Jaja (Accountant General of Bauchi State), Abubakar Muhammad Hafiz (at large), Ari Manga (at large), and Muhammad Aminu Bose (at large), between 3rd January, 2025 and 14th March 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit an offence to wit: money laundering by converting the sum of Four hundred and twenty-six million, One hundred and sixteen Thousand, Thirteen Naira, Seven kobo (N426, 116,013.7) of the public funds, belonging to Bauchi State Government which you transferred from the Bauchi state Sub-Treasury Account, domiciled in the United Bank for Africa with account number 1018819396 into bank account of Jasfad Enterprise, domiciled in United Bank for Africa with account number 1023444660 and thereby, committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(b) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, following which the counsel to first and second defendants Gordy Uche, SAN, and Chris Uche, SAN, respectively applied for the defendants to continue to enjoy the bail granted them by the court, which was not objected by the prosecution counsel.

The first defendant’s counsel, further moved a motion challenging the competence of the charge, and asked the judge to strike out counts two, three, four and five for allegedly being a duplicity of action, and to save the defendants from suffering double jeopardy. This found support from the counsel to the second defendant, Chris Uche, SAN, while they faced objection from the prosecution counsel.

The court, however, reserved ruling on the contention till the end of trial, citing Section 395 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA 2015.

In continuation of the trial, the prosecution called its first witness, Prosecution Witness One, PW1, Abimbola Williams, a compliance officer with the United Bank for Africa (UBA) with 20 years’ experience.

She informed the court that the bank in February 2025, received a request from the EFCC for details of some of its clients.

“The request asked for the bank statements of Jaspa Resources account, Bauchi State Sub-treasury account and the documents were printed and copies given to EFCC,” she said.

The banker, who said that the documents were certified by her, tendered them through the prosecution and they were in evidence by the court and marked as exhibits. Although the defence lawyers raised an objection, they said their objection would be expounded in their written addresses.

Further in his testimony, the PW1 narrated to the court how money, running into multi-million Naira, belonging to Bauchi State was allegedly moved from Bauchi State Sub-treasury Account number: 1018819396, to Jasfad Resources Enterprise account number: 1023444660, domiciled in UBA.

EFCC re-arraigns Bauchi Accountant General,

She told the court that on October 29, 2024, there was a debit transfer from Bauchi State Sub-treasury Account to Jasfad Resources to the tune of N13, 144,500. Also that “On October 29, 2024, we have a debit transfer of 1N7,196,300. On October 30, 2024 there were two debit transfers from Bauchi Sub-treasury account to Jasfad Resources Enterprise, first for N50 million and the second for N7, 321,000,” he said.

The witness further disclosed that there were 18 other times, on different dates within the period that transfers were made from Bauchi State Sub-treasury Account to Jasfad Resources.

Following the conclusion of the PW1’s evidence-in-chief, Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter until May 12 for continuation of trial.