Suswam: Court adjourns N3.1bn money laundering trial to July 16

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the alleged N3.1billion money laundering charge filed by the federal government against former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam and his co-defendant till July 16 for adoption of final written addresses.

The matter was earlier adjourned till today, June 30, for adoption, but the failure of the parties in the matter to be in court made the trial judge, Justice Peter Lifu, reschedule the matter for July 16 for parties to adopt their final written addressees in the N3.1 billion fraud case for adoption after Suswam and his co-defendant, his then Commissioner for Finance, Omodachi Okolobia, had closed their defence.

The defendants closed their defence after Suswam finished testifying as the sole defence witness.

Messrs Suswam and Okolobia face 11 counts of money laundering involving N3.1 billion, proceeds from the sale of shares owned by the Benue State Government through the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, prosecuting the matter, alleged that, between 8 August and 30 October 2014, in Abuja, the two men used a company, Elixir Securities Ltd and Elixir Investment Partners Limited to divert N3.1 billion allegedly stolen from the proceeds of the sale of shares.

The anti-graft agency had called nine witnesses before the defendants opted for a no-case submission, arguing they had no case to answer.

However, on 23 July, Justice Lifu dismissed the no-case submission, ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case warranting the defendants to present their defence.

“Consequently, upon my conclusion, the defendants’ no-case submission is hereby refused and dismissed. The defendants are hereby called upon to enter their various defences,” Justice Lifu ruled.

Suswam, who governed Benue State from 2007 to 2015, and his co-defendant were first arraigned in November 2015 by the EFCC over allegations of diverting N3.1 billion, part of the proceeds from the sale of Benue State government shares.

The defendants were subsequently re-arraigned before the court on 2nd November 2020 on an amended charge wherein the EFCC alleged that Okolobia transacted a total of N578 million in four tranches, exceeding the cash transaction limit under the money laundering law, between December 2014 and January 2015.

The case has faced multiple delays over the years. Initially handled by Justices Ahmed Mohammed and Okon Abang at various times, it was reassigned to Justice Lifu following Court of Appeal directives after Justice Mohammed’s elevation to the appellate bench in 2023.

The case has now lingered for almost 11 years, with repeated adjournments and re-arraignments.

In March 2024, the defendants were re-arraigned before Justice Lifu and pleaded not guilty and upon EFCC’s case presentation, the defendants filed a no-case submission, which was dismissed by the court.