Ill-health stalls ex-Gov Suswam’s arraignment

ATTEMPt by the federal government to arraign former governor Gabriel Suswan of Benue state over allegation of unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering was on Thursday stalled at the Federal hHgh Court in Abuja.

The former governor who was incarcerated for more than 43 days by the Department of the State Service (DSS) over the alleged offence was said to have taken ill and was being attended to at an undisclosed hospital in Abuja.

Counsel to the former governor, Mr  Joseph Daudu (SAN) disclosed the news of illness of his client prompting the arraignment to be deferred pending when the former governor recovered.

The federal government through the DSS wants to prosecute Suswan  before Justice Gabriel Kolawole an account of arms and ammunition allegedly found in some vehicles traced to him in Abuja.

The DSS said the detention of the former governor for close to two months, was to enable them carry out detail investigation of the source and purpose of the firearms

Suswan had on Wednesday withdrew the N10 billion suits he filed against  DSS and others over his unlawful arrest and detention without trial

Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday struck out the suit  following an application by counsel to the former governor  for the withdrawal of the suit on the ground that his client was on Sunday May 7, 2017 released from the detention by the DSS.

He informed the court that Suswam, immediately after his release from detention was rushed to hospital and the doctor recommended that he should remain on bed rest for some time and hinted that Suswam may not be strong enough to appear in court yesterday for his arraignment.