A prosecution witness, Ismail Lawal, told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court that he received money from several Taraba State government officials solely at the instruction of former Governor Darius Ishaku, who is facing corruption charges.
Mr Ishaku is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Bello Yero, former Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. The duo faces 15 counts of criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and conversion of public funds totaling N27 billion. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.
During cross-examination by Mr Yero’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe, Mr Lawal presented a notebook, admitted as an exhibit, recording all funds he received and disbursed. He insisted the records were strictly between him and the former governor, who verified the entries.
Mr Adedipe enumerated eight state officials, including Mr Yero, Permanent Secretary Chindo Audu, Finance Directors Galeya Godiya and Emmanuel Effun, Personnel Accountant Haziel Bala, Cashiers Joel Gilenya and John Columbia, and Senior Local Government Inspector Taiwo Jones. Mr Lawal said he knew them professionally but was not involved in their personal lives.
“They were giving me the money on the instructions of the governor to deliver to him. I do not know where the money they were giving me was coming from,” he testified. On whether he knew the purpose of a N40 million entry in his notebook, he said, “I only collected the money based on instructions from the former governor.”
Mr Lawal, who previously worked for Mr Ishaku’s private business and later served as his personal assistant during his governorship from May 2015 to May 2023, confirmed that one Jacklyn opened an account for him in Zenith Bank to collect funds from Taraba government officials. He denied knowledge of two Access Bank accounts allegedly in his name.
While responding to EFCC counsel Eko Ejembi, Mr Lawal described Taraba as affected by insurgency and insecurity, noting he was unsure if the former governor’s annual security vote exceeded N1 billion. He also testified that the EFCC reviewed his Zenith Bank accounts during its 2020 investigation. However, he could not recall details about a property at Brains and Hammers Estate, referenced in count 14 of the charge, allegedly purchased with diverted funds.
A Federal High Court judgment regarding the immunity enjoyed by the former governor was tendered by Mr Ejembi but was rejected by Justice Slyvanius Oriji on grounds of lacking a direct nexus with the witness.
The court adjourned the hearing until 8 December for continuation.