Can I lodge bank draft direct into someone else's bank account ?

I have a bank draft made out to me. I don't want it to pass through my account.

I owe someone else this money.

Can I lodge it direct into their account assuming I walk into their bank with valid ID ?
Or is the nature of bank drafts that they can only be lodged into my account in the first instance ?

Assuming the draft is crossed "ac payee" or words to that effect then no, you cannot pay it in. Having said that, if it's a low value draft and you were to lodge it via a fast lodgement box or cheque deposit machine in a branch, it's quite possible the bank may never even spot that it was lodged to someone else.

Some banks have removed blank credit slips in branches as well and require your bank card to make the lodgement so that may also be an issue when trying to lodge it