“You Must Face the Music!” — Court Rejects Suswam’s Attempt to Dodge N3.1 Billion Fraud Trial
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“You Must Face the Music!” — Court Rejects Suswam’s Attempt to Dodge N3.1 Billion Fraud Trial
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has thrown out a no-case submission filed by former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam and his ex-Finance Commissioner, Omodachi Okolobia, in the ongoing ₦3.1 billion money laundering case.
In a ruling delivered yesterday, Justice Peter Lifu held that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case, warranting the defendants to enter their defence.
“The prosecution has, by evidence led so far, established a prima facie case against Suswam and Okolobia to warrant the court to call on them to enter a defence,” the judge ruled.
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Justice Lifu further dismissed the no-case submission as lacking merit and ordered the duo to open their defence on the next adjournment date, which was fixed for September 22.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the former officials on an 11-count amended charge, accusing them of laundering ₦3.1 billion — funds allegedly diverted from the proceeds of Benue State government shares, held by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited, and sold through Elixir Securities and Elixir Investment Partners.
This development puts the spotlight once again on high-profile corruption trials in Nigeria, raising fresh questions about political accountability and the slow pace of justice in the country.
