The
First Prosecution Witness, PW1, Ismail Lawal in the trial
of the former governor of Taraba State, Darius Dickson
Ishaku on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, informed Justice S.C.
Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja,
that Ishaku advised him to run away for a period of six
months, so as not to report to the EFCC that needed him for its
investigations concerning the former governor.
Ishaku, the first defendant, is facing
prosecution by the EFCC alongside a former permanent secretary,
Bureau for Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, on
a 15-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust,
conspiracy and conversion of public fund to the tune of
N27,000,000,000.00 (Twenty -seven Billion Naira).
Speaking under cross-examination by the first
defendant’s counsel, P. H. Ogbole, SAN, the witness
disclosed that as the EFCC was closing in on him in furtherance of
its investigation of the first defendant, he was then advised by
the first defendant to run away for six months adding that the
Commission arrested him while he was he was planning to submit
himself to it.
“I was invited to come to the EFCC and was planning to
go before His Excellency asked me to stay out. When he asked me to go, I
asked how long and he said six months, but people have gone
ahead of me and have given statements against me that they gave me money, so if
the EFCC asked me to come and I did not come at that time, meaning they may be
suspecting that I took the money,” he said.
He further stated that he was detained by
the EFCC for 40 days because he couldn’t meet up
with the conditions of the administrative bail. “I was in EFCC detention
for 40 days because I couldn't meet the bail conditions. I was given
bail conditions on the second or third day. I also made statements before
I was asked to bring sureties”, he said.
The witness also stated that he was in
no position to ascertain if the assignments he undertook for the
first defendant were legitimate or not, adding that he
wouldn’t have carried them out if he knew they were illegitimate.
“I have no knowledge of what was going on in the
offices or the communication between His Excellency and the
people. My own was to go where I was told to collect
money, based on instructions. So I wouldn’t know what the money was
meant for. My own was to follow instructions. I wouldn't have done
them if I knew they were illegitimate assignments,” he said.
Testifying further, he said, “The assignment I
have been given, I carry out. I wouldn’t know the communication or
relationship between the governor and the people whom I was taking the money
from. I was only under the assignment which I did. And as a
governor, I didn’t believe he was sending me to carry out illegitimate
assignments at that time. Mine is just to follow instructions to
collect money, pay into accounts and bring the rest to him.”
He further informed the court that the EFCC did not
promise or assure him that it will use him as a prosecution
witness against the first defendant. “I was not informed that I would be a
prosecution witness, until I read it in the dailies, then the EFCC
informed me that I will be a witness. I was just asked questions which I
answered. Documents were shown to me, I was asked questions based on
those documents.
Justice Oriji adjourned the matter till
September 30 and October 15 and 20 and November 6, 2025 for
continuation of cross-examination and continuation of trial.
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