An Abuja High Court has heard from a prosecution witness, Ismail Lawal, who said he was directed to collect various allowances on behalf of former Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku.
Lawal, the first prosecution witness (PW1) in the trial, served as a Personal Assistant to the former governor.
He told the court on Tuesday ,during cross-examination by Ishaku’s counsel, Paul Ogbole, SAN, that he acted strictly on instructions while working for his principal.
“I collected most of the allowances on his behalf I don’t know the total amount, and I’m not aware of the specific amount allocated for security allowances. I just followed instructions,”Lawal said.
According to him, the allowances included travel, domestic staff, vehicle maintenance, medical, security, and severance packages.
“I am a law-abiding citizen and have never been involved in any criminal activity. While working for the first defendant, I only did what I was instructed to do. There was no compulsion or coercion, and I never undermined my principal or any institution,”Lawal told the court.
Ishaku and a former Permanent Secretary at the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, are facing a 15-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The charges include criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and the alleged diversion of N27 billion in public funds. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Lawal revealed that he spent 40 days in EFCC custody after his arrest in Lagos due to his inability to meet bail conditions,.l describing his arrest as shocking and confusing.
The witness also told the court that he made multiple statements to the EFCC, including one in the presence of a friend during his arrest.
However, he said the commission did not inform him that he would be a prosecution witness at the time, adding that he was only told that his statements might be used against him in court.
When asked about Barrett Holdings, Lawal admitted to making payments into the company’s account but said he did not know the directors or shareholders, nor the nature of the relationship between the company and Ishaku.
“Sometimes I deposited the allowances I collected as instructed, and at other times, he gave me cash to pay into the Barrett Holdings account,” he said.
Lawal also confirmed that he operated a Fidelity Bank account jointly with his father and made transfers to family members from his Zenith Bank account.
Justice Slyvanus Oriji adjourned the case until September 30 for continuation of cross-examination.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
