N3.1bn fraud: Court orders ex-Benue gov Suswam to face trial
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has determined that former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam must face trial over the N3.1 billion fraud allegation filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The judge ruled that a prima facie case has been sufficiently established against Suswam, justifying the need for him to enter a defence in the fraud charges.
In response to a no-case submission made by Suswam and his ex-Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Omodachi Okolobia, Justice Lifu found the submission to be without merit at this stage and dismissed it accordingly.
The court directed the two accused individuals to present their defence, setting September 22 and 26 as the dates for this process.
Suswam, the lead defendant, along with Okolobia, faces an 11-count amended charge.
They are accused of diverting N3.1 billion, allegedly derived from proceeds of the sale of the state government’s shares held by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited, through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.
During the no-case submission hearing, the defence lawyers, Chenelu Ogbozor and Paul Erokoro, SAN, cited Sections 302 and 303 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, urging the court to accept their motion to discharge and acquit both defendants on grounds that there is insufficient evidence linking them to the offenses.
However, prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, countered this request, arguing against the defence’s application and asking the court to reject it.
The Nigerian government’s lawyer emphasized that the no-case submission was baseless and lacked merit.
N3.1bn fraud: Court orders ex-Benue gov Suswam to face trial
