Alleged N3.1b Fraud: Suswam’s Trial Stalled Over Failure To Begin Defence

The proceedings of erstwhile Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, earlier Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court sitting successful Abuja was connected Monday, September 22, 2025, stalled owed to the defendant’s inability to commence his defence.

Suswm, alongside his past Commissioner of Finance, Omodachi Okolobia, is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) connected amended 11-count charges for allegedly diverting N3.1 billion, being portion of proceeds from the merchantability of the Benue State shares, held connected its behalf by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited, done Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.

Justice Lifu had connected Wednesday, July 23, 2025, dismissed a no-case submission made by Suswam connected the matter, ordering him to commence his defence.

Rather than commence his defence astatine Monday’s proceedings, Suswam, done his counsel, J.B Daudu, SAN, asked the tribunal for three-week adjournment to alteration him hole for his defence.

According to him, 1 of his lawyers, Chenelu Ogbozor, is presently connected infirmary admittance arsenic good arsenic the information that helium has filed an entreaty against the ruling of the proceedings tribunal successful his no-case submission and urged the proceedings tribunal to clasp connected until the determination of the appeal.

Prosecution counsel, A.O. Atolagbe, successful his response, urged the tribunal to discountenace the supplication of the defence, stating that the yearly recess of the courts provided it with much than 2 months accidental to hole for the defence.

“We person much than 2 months to hole for the defence. In fact, this lawsuit has been up for 10 years and they person much than 10 years to hole for defence. We cannot hold for the Court of Appeal and inquire that the proceedings tribunal to wait. Except successful a lawsuit wherever the Court of Appeal gives a day and gives a ruling, that is erstwhile this tribunal tin beryllium bound by this. But this tribunal cannot stall proceedings due to the fact that of that application. We inquire that the proceedings tribunal discountenance this. My lord, it is unfair for them to inquire for 3 weeks, the defence had much than 3 months during the interruption to hole for their case,” helium said.

Justice Lifu regretted the dilatory gait of the trial, noting that the proceedings has dragged for much than 10 years and urged some parties to enactment towards its conclusion.

“This greeting erstwhile I came, I was searching for the record of this lawsuit and I couldn’t find it. In fact, until now, I person not acceptable my eyes connected the exertion of the Court of Appeal you are talking about. I had to nonstop my radical to spell to the entreaty registry of the tribunal to look for the record lone to spot the lawsuit record scattered and littered each implicit the place. It was the crushed wherefore I came present late. We cannot spell connected similar this, this lawsuit has been connected for 10 years. No substance what, a lawsuit should not spell connected for 10 years,” Justics Lifu said.

He, thereafter, adjourned the substance till October 10, 2025, for Suswam to commence his defence.