The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, fixed September 28 for the resumed hearing of the nine-count money laundering case the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, filed against former governor of Benue State, Mr. Gabriel Suswam.
Suswam is facing trial alongside his then Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Omodachi Okolobia. They were alleged to have looted about N3.1billion, being proceeds of shares owned by the Benue State government and Benue Investment and Property Company Ltd.
Trial Justice Ahmed Mohammed adjourned the case owing to absence of the 2nd defendant, Omadachi, who was remanded in prison custody over another criminal charge. The Federal Government had on Monday, docked Suswam, Omadachi and former Accountant of Benue State Government House Administration, Mrs. Janet Aluga, before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the same high court on a 32-count charge relating to another alleged N9.79billion fraud.
Though Justice Kolawole granted the defendants bail to the tune of N250million each with one surety in like sum, he said they should be remanded in Kuje prison pending perfection of the bail term. Meanwhile, at the resumed sitting on the second case before Justice Mohammed on Wednesday, Omadachi’s counsel, Mr. Samson Igede, told the court that his client was yet to fulfil the bail conditions. He prayed the court for an adjournment to enable the 2nd defendant to secure his release from prison. The request was not opposed by Suswam’s lawyer, Mr. Taiwo Kawo, SAN, and the prosecution lawyer, Mr. Oluwaleke Atolagbe.
Justice Mohammed consequently deferred the matter till September 28.
