Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to former Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, ASP Dickson Pawa, on Tuesday in Makurdi admitted receiving N58.8 million from the state’s Ministry for Finance for his boss.
Pawa admitted receiving the money while testifying at the ongoing Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the administration of the former governor.
He, however, stated that he did so based on instructions handed to him by his principal.
The former ADC told the commission that the money was received in two instalments of N50m and N8.8m.
He said the money was handed to him by the then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Ruth Ijir for Suswam.
He explained that as ADC to the former governor, his duties were varied, including “even running errands” for his boss.
“My duties were many but based on trust. Sometimes, I could be his lawyer, his errand boy or security personnel and all these were assigned based on the trust that existed between us.”
Pawa was summoned by the commission to explain his involvement in the transaction.
When the commission confronted him with documentary evidence showing that he actually signed and collected another N50m, apart from the one given to him by the permanent secretary, he said the document was a duplicate of the earlier money he received.
After a close examination of the document, the commission unanimously agreed with Pawa that it was the same document and ordered the ministry of finance to account for the remaining N50 million.
Also testifying, Suswam’s Orderly, Mr Julius Donko, denied ever receiving money from the Ministry of Finance for his boss.
Donko described his invitation as that of “a mistaken identity and a calculated attempt to tarnish his image.”
He explained that he was only the ex- governor’s orderly and not his accountant or administrative staff.
Donko was invited to account for N250 million allegedly received by him from the ministry of finance while serving as orderly to Suswam.
