The trial of former Taraba State governor, Darius Ishaku, continued on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, before Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court. The first prosecution witness, Ismail Lawal, narrated how he allegedly collected and disbursed large sums of money on the instructions of the former governor.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said Ishaku, alongside Bello Yero, a former permanent secretary at the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, is being prosecuted by the Commission on a 15-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and diversion of public funds amounting to N27 billion.
Testifying under cross-examination by defence counsel P.H. Ogbole (SAN), Lawal said the instructions he acted upon came verbally, by text messages, or through handwritten notes from the ex-governor. He gave a breakdown of several cash collections, including N10 million received from a liaison officer, Mr. Dauda, in Abuja on December 13, 2020, and N7 million collected two days earlier from Emmanuel Ifun, Director of Finance at Government House.
From his record book, which he said was “strictly between me and His Excellency,” Lawal detailed further collections: N50 million from the permanent secretary on December 20, 2020; N30 million on January 12, 2021; N20 million on January 27, 2021; N4 million on January 30, 2021; and several other sums ranging from N6.5 million to N30 million, some of which were transferred directly into his account.
Lawal said governor Ishaku verified the records after every transaction. Justice Oriji adjourned the case to October 20, November 4, and November 6, 2025, for continuation of trial.
