Suswam, alongside his then Commissioner of Finance, Omodachi Okolobia, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on amended 11-count charges of allegedly diverting N3.1 billion.
The trial of former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, over alleged N3.1billion fraud has continued to drag for more than a decade, with Monday’s proceedings at the Federal High Court, Abuja again stalled due to the defendant’s failure to commence his defence.
Suswam, alongside his then Commissioner of Finance, Omodachi Okolobia, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on amended 11-count charges of allegedly diverting N3.1 billion.
The funds, according to the EFCC, were part of the proceeds from the sale of Benue State shares held by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited and allegedly laundered through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.
On July 23, 2025, Justice Peter Lifu dismissed a no-case submission filed by Suswam and ordered him to begin his defence.
But at Monday’s proceedings, Suswam, through his counsel, J.B. Daudu (SAN), asked the court for a three-week adjournment to prepare, citing the hospitalisation of one of his lawyers, Chenelu Ogbozor.
He also argued that an appeal had been filed against the ruling on the no-case submission and urged the trial court to hold on until the appellate court’s determination.
The prosecution counsel, A.O. Atolagbe, opposed the move, stressing that the matter had dragged for 10 years.
“We have more than two months to prepare for the defence. In fact, this case has been up for 10 years and they have more than 10 years to prepare for defence. We cannot wait for the Court of Appeal and ask that the trial court to wait. Except in a case where the Court of Appeal gives a date and gives a ruling, that is when this court can be bound by this.”
“But this court cannot stall proceedings because of that application. We ask that the trial court discountenance this. My lord, it is unfair for them to ask for three weeks, the defence had more than three months during the break to prepare for their case,” he said.
Justice Lifu also expressed frustration, lamenting that the case had lingered far too long.
“This morning when I came, I was searching for the file of this case and I couldn’t find it. In fact, until now, I have not set my eyes on the application of the Court of Appeal you are talking about.”
“I had to send my people to go to the appeal registry of the court to look for the file only to see the case file scattered and littered all over the place. It was the reason why I came here late. We cannot go on like this; this case has been on for 10 years. No matter what, a case should not go on for 10 years,” he said.
The judge adjourned the matter till October 10, 2025, for Suswam to open his defence.
Sahara Reporters
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