The first prosecution witness (PW1) in the trial of former Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, on Tuesday told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, that he did not know the total amount of money he collected on behalf of the former governor.
The witness, Ismail Lawal, who served as Ishaku’s personal assistant, gave the testimony while being cross-examined by the defence counsel, Paul Ogbole (SAN).
Ishaku and Bello Yero, a former Permanent Secretary in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, are standing trial on a 15-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charges, marked FCT/HC/CR/792/2024, border on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and conversion of public funds amounting to N27 billion. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Lawal admitted to collecting cash on behalf of Ishaku and distributing it based on instructions but maintained that he could not recall either the total sums or the specific dates.
“I collected the first defendant’s earned allowances and distributed them on his instructions, but I don’t know the total amount I received or the dates,” he said.
He further disclosed that he was also paid allowances for his role, including N20,000 daily travel allowance whenever he accompanied the governor, alongside a monthly salary of N130,000. The witness also owned a poultry farm in Kubwa, Abuja, which he valued at about N5 million during that period.
When shown a notebook earlier tendered by the prosecution as evidence, Lawal explained that it only contained his personal records of transactions with the former governor and was neither a government nor banking record. He also admitted that the entries were not counter-signed by those who disbursed the monies.
Lawal further testified that on Ishaku’s instructions, he stayed in hotels in Lagos for over a year, paying N20,000 daily — about N600,000 monthly — but said he could not produce receipts because EFCC operatives who arrested him in Lagos allegedly seized them.
Justice Sylvanus Oriji adjourned the case until October 20 for continuation of cross-examination.
