By Seyi Balogun

Former governor of Taraba State, Darius Dickson Ishaku, and a former permanent secretary in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Bello Yero’s trial continued on Monday, June 15, 2026, before Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja with the Third Prosecution Witness, PW3, Taiwo Johns informing the court that money from local governments in the state was sent to his private account with instruction, usually from Yero or other officers of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs on the disbursement.

Explaining his role, he informed the court that he used to withdraw such money in cash.

Ishaku, the first defendant, is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC alongside Yero, on a 15-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds to the tune of N27 billion.

Speaking on his invitation by the EFCC and how the Commission traced the alleged funds to the account of his company, P3 International Account, he stated that he used the company account to manage his farming business before joining the civil service as Assistant Cashier in the state’s Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

The witness disclosed also that John Columba, former Chief Cashier, Babangida Hassan, former Director Finance and former Permanent Secretary, Bello Yero asked him in the cause of his duty to make available his account information and always wait for instruction on what to do with any money sent to it.

“They asked me to submit the account number so some money will be sent to me and await further instruction on what to do with it. A few days later, some amount of money was sent to the account by the local government. When the money entered my account, I reported to my chief cashier, John Columba before I reported to Bagangida Hassan and he reported to Bello Yero before I was given a directive on where to pay the money.

Asked by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, how he disbursed the money, the witness stated that “Sometimes when money comes to this account, I will withdraw the money or leave it in the bank and wait for further instruction. Sometimes, I will be given the account number to lodge the money, while they will come with Lawal, P.A. to his excellency and I will hand the money over to him.”

He further testified: “sometimes the instruction is given by the permanent secretary, Alhaji Yero, the second defendant, the director of finance, Babangida Hassan and sometimes the cashier of the local government lodges the money into my account, in which I will report to my immediate boss.”

He further informed the court that he would often be given account numbers to disburse the money, disclosing that N3 million from such money from a local government, sent on November 20, 2017 was paid to the Second Prosecution Witness, PW2, Prince Onwuzuruike, with additional N2,250,000, totalling N5,250,000, all paid to him in one day on instructions. He also disclosed that he received N7,750,000 on February 6, 2018, and was asked to send N6,250,000 to Onwuzuruike.

He stated that on April 11, 2018, Columba, the Chief Cashier of local government sent money to his account, comprising N5 million, N1.7 million and N1.8 million, respectively and that there was a cash withdrawal on April 16, 2018, based on the instruction of the Director of Finance, Babangida Hassan.

He further stated, he received a credit of N4,767,386.41 on April 26, 2018 and that on the same date, N4,780,000 and N3,220,000 was transferred to Prince Onwuzuruike.

According to him, there were cash deposits of N5,650,000 and N4,500,000 on April 27, 2018, with an instruction to send N4,780,000 and N3,370,000 to Prince Onwuzuruike

Justice Oriji adjourned the matter till July 7, 2026 for continuation of trial

Late general’s son says cause of death was likely heart attack; mother still in bandits’ custody despite social media reports

By Felix Umande

Contradicting the Katsina State Government, the family of late retired Major General Rabe Abubakar has rejected claims that he died of diabetes and hypertension while in bandits’ captivity, insisting the retired officer had no history of those ailments.

In an interview with newsmen on Sunday, Isyaka Rabe, one of the late general’s sons, dismissed the government’s account as inaccurate.

The Katsina State Government had on Saturday confirmed Abubakar’s death and attributed it to complications from diabetes and hypertension.

“I truly don’t believe it was diabetes. In our view, it was a heart attack. If you look at it, his legs were restrained. Moreover, some people said that he was walking, and he didn’t die, so God knows, since only God is the knower,” Isyaka said.

He also addressed speculation that the general may have died from a snake bite after a video reportedly released by the kidnappers circulated online. “Some people believed the late general may have died from a snake bite, based on a video reportedly released by kidnappers. However, he said only God knows the actual cause of his father’s death,” Isyaka stated.

Isyaka said he had no information on how his father’s remains were recovered. He prayed for the repose of the late general’s soul, describing him as a deeply religious, peace-loving man who lived a simple life and “died a hero.”

“When I announced the time for my father’s funeral prayer, many people began asking how the body was recovered. I told them I did not know and that they should direct such questions to the government,” he said.

The son also debunked reports circulating on social media that his mother, who was abducted alongside the retired general, had been released.

“Whoever says she has been released, I, Isyaka Rabe, son of Major General Rabe, I say that is a lie; she has not been released. Right now, she is still in their custody,” he declared.

Late Maj. Gen. Abubakar was kidnapped alongside his wife on May 30 while traveling through Katsina State. On June 6, the bandits released a four-minute video showing the couple appealing to the Katsina State Government for the release of three detained fighters and the return of livestock allegedly seized during security operations as conditions for their freedom.

–Terrorists deliver body to family for burial
–Son rejects diabetes and hypertension claim by Katsina govt

By Michael Lim, Abuja

Following the suspected murder of her husband in captivity, the wife of late Major General Rabe Abubakar (RTD) has been released by the bandits who abducted her and her late husband. They were abducted in Katsina state on 30th May, 2026.

Major General Rabe reportedly died while in the custody of the bandits due to what the Katsina state government said was complications from diabetes and hypertension.

After his death, reports have it that the abductors boldly came unchallenged, handed over the body of the late General to the family and left.

Meanwhile, son of the late Major General Rabe Abubakar (rtd), Isyaka, has rejected the Katsina State Government’s claim that his father died from diabetes and hypertension complications while in captivity, insisting the retired General had no history of either condition.

In an interview with Deutsche Welle yesterday, the bereaved son described reports attributing his father’s death to diabetes as inaccurate.

He noted that some people, citing the last video released by the kidnappers, believe the General may have died from a snake bite.

Stressing that only God knows the actual cause of his father’s death, he added: “I truly don’t believe it was diabetes. In our view, it was a heart attack. If you look at it, his legs were restrained. Moreover, some people said that he was walking, and he didn’t die, so God knows.”

While praying for the repose of his father’s soul, Isyaka described him as a deeply religious, peace-loving man who lived a simple life.