Alleged N27b fraud: How I collected, disbursed money on Ishaku’s instruction

Nkereuwem Effiong

The First Prosecution Witness, PW1, Ismail Lawal in the trial of a former governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, narrated before a Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, presided over by Justice S.C. Oriji how he took delivery of money in cash and in transfers and disbursed them on the instruction of the former governor.

Ishaku, the first defendant, is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, 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 funds to the tune of N27,000,000,000.00 (Twenty-Seven Billion Naira).

While under cross-examination by Ishaku’s counsel, P. H. Ogbole, SAN, the witness stated that “the instructions were verbal, but sometimes through text messages and sometimes through writing on paper.”

Dele Oyewale, Head, Media and Publicity, said when asked if such money came from the Taraba State Government House, he stated that “there is money collected from the liaison officer, Mr Dauda, N10 million on December 13, 2020, in Abuja.”

Citing Exhibit 3, he also stated that on December 11, 2020 that he collected N7 million from one Mr Emmanuel Ifun, Director of Finance in Government House.

Giving further break down from his hardcover notebook, he said, “Money collected from Perm Secretary, 20 December, 2020, N50 million; money collected from Perm Sec, on January 12, 2021, N30 million; money collected from liaison officer, N15 million on January 12, 2021; on the 27th January, 2021, money collected from Perm Secretary, N20 million; on the 30th January, 2021, money collected from Mr. Emmanuel Ifun, N4 million; money collected from Emmanuel Ifun on 1st January, 2022, N10 million; on the same day another N13 million, collected from Mr. Emmanuel Ifun.”

Others are, “On the 3rd of February 2021, I collected N20m again from Mr. Emmanuel Ifun; on the 5th of February, 2021, I collected N6.5 million from Mr. Emmanuel Ifun; On the 6th of February, money collected from Mr Emmanuel Ifun, N20 million; on the 10th of February 2021, money collected from Mr. Emmanuel Ifun, N14 million; on the 10th of February, 2021, money collected from Zenith Bank, N30 million. That was part of the money that was sent to my account,” he said.

He further told the court that all the entries on the money collected as contained in his notebook were made by him, adding that “this record is strictly between me and His Excellency.

Any money I received, I recorded it here. It is a record book between me and His Excellency. I kept the record, and His Excellency verified it.”

Justice Oriji adjourned the matter till October 20 and November 4 and 6 for continuation of the trial.