EFCC Presents Final Witness Against Former Benue Governor Suswam in Alleged ₦3.1bn Fraud Cas
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has presented its ninth and final prosecution witness against former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam in an ongoing trial over alleged diversion of ₦3.1 billion public funds.
Suswam is standing trial alongside his former Commissioner of Finance, Omodachi Okolobia, on an amended 11-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering. The charges stem from the alleged misappropriation of proceeds from the sale of Benue State government shares held by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited.
During proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, the prosecution, led by A.O. Atolagbe, informed the court of the decision to close its case with the testimony of PW9, EFCC investigator Ape Sunday, due to the ill health of the tenth scheduled witness.
The EFCC disclosed that Mrs. Shiedu Awade, a former cashier and executive officer at Benue Investment and Property Ltd., was unable to appear due to serious illness and has been on admission at the National Hospital, Abuja.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, defence counsels C.E. Ugbozor (for Suswam) and Paul Erokoro, SAN (for Okolobia), indicated their intention to file a “no case submission”, arguing that the prosecution had not sufficiently established a prima facie case against the defendants. They requested 14 days to file their applications.
In response, the prosecution requested 21 days to file its reply.
Justice Lifu adjourned the matter to June 24, 2025, for the adoption of the defence’s no case submission.
Source:
EFCC Press Release, Dele Oyewale – Head, Media & Publicity, May 14, 2025.
