Former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam
Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday adjourned the trial of former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, until January 20, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses in his money laundering case.
Justice Peter Lifu made the ruling after Suswam and his co-defendant, Omodachi Okolobia, the former Commissioner for Finance in Benue, concluded their defence in the high-profile case. The court also granted the EFCC 14 days to file and serve their final written address, with another 14 days allowed for the defendants to respond.
The duo faces an 11-count amended charge relating to the alleged misappropriation of N3.1 billion—proceeds said to have come from the sale of government-owned shares through the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited.
The EFCC claims the transactions were routed through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.
During proceedings, Suswam and Okolobia initially sought to file a no-case submission, insisting the EFCC had failed to establish a prima facie case against them. They argued that the prosecution lacked credible evidence linking them to the alleged diversion of public funds.
Justice Lifu, however, dismissed their no-case submission in a July 23 ruling, insisting the EFCC had presented sufficient evidence to warrant the defendants opening their defence.
“The defendants’ no-case submission is hereby refused and dismissed.
The defendants are hereby called upon to enter their various defences,” the judge said.
The EFCC, which had called nine witnesses during its case, alleges that the former governor and his finance commissioner laundered N3.1 billion via the two companies, including a total of N578 million transacted by Okolobia in four tranches, exceeding the legal cash transaction threshold between December 2014 and January 2015.
Suswam, who served as governor from 2007 to 2015, and Okolobia have pleaded not guilty and remain on bail pending the conclusion of the trial.
The case has been ongoing since 2015, reflecting one of the longest-running anti-corruption prosecutions linked to the alleged mismanagement of state funds in Nigeria.
