N27b Fraud: ‘I Collected Funds From Taraba Govt Officials On Ex-Gov Ishaku’s Directive,’- EFCC Witness Confesses
- By Metropolix ~
- November 6, 2025 --
- 0 Comment
— Former Gov. Darius Ishaku
By St. Johnson Adegboyega
As the fraud cases against former governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is ongoing, an EFCC witness, Ismail Lawal, told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Thursday that he collected funds from several Taraba Government officials strictly on the governor’s instructions.
The EFCC arraigned Ishaku alongside a former permanent secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Bello Yero, on a 15-count charge of criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds to the tune of N27 billion.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Lawal, while being cross-examined by Yero’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), used a notebook (admitted as an exhibit) to record all the funds he received and disbursed on the ex-governor’s directive.
He claimed the record was strictly between him and the former governor, who verified the entries.
Lawal listed the other officials to Chindo Audu; Galiya Godiya; Hazel Bala; Joel Gilenya; Taiwo Jones and Emmanuel Efun.
“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 stated.
Asked if he knew the purpose of the N40 million he wrote in his notebook, the witness said he didn’t know the purpose.
“Like I said, I only collected the money based on instructions from the former governor,” he added.
He confirmed that one Jacklyn opened an account for him in Zenith Bank to collect money from Taraba government officials.
Justice Slyvanius Oriji adjourned the case till December 8 for continuation of hearing.
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