Former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam
Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam and his ex-Commissioner for Finance, Omadachi Oklobia, must answer to charges of alleged N3.1 billion fraud.
Delivering his ruling on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, Justice Peter Lifu dismissed the defendants’ no-case submission, stating that the prosecution had established a prima facie case requiring their defense.
“The evidence presented by the prosecution is legally admissible and sufficiently links the defendants to the allegations,” Justice Lifu declared. “In the interest of a fair hearing, the defendants must provide explanations for these charges. Their no-case submission is hereby refused, and they are called upon to open their defense.”
The court adjourned the case to September 22 and 26, 2025, for Suswam and Oklobia to present their defense. The duo faces an 11-count amended charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing them of conspiracy, money laundering, and criminal breach of trust.
The EFCC alleges that the N3.1 billion in question stemmed from the sale of Benue State government shares managed by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC), with transactions facilitated through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.
Legal Journey and Defense Arguments
The case, which began in November 2015 before Justice Ahmed Mohammed, has faced a tumultuous path. Suswam’s counsel, Chinedu Ogbozor, and Oklobia’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro, SAN, had filed a no-case submission under Sections 302 and 303 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, arguing that the EFCC failed to establish a prima facie case.
“The prosecution’s evidence does not sufficiently connect our clients to the alleged offenses,” Erokoro contended in court documents. They urged the court to discharge and acquit the defendants.
However, EFCC lead counsel Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, opposed the motion, citing a written reply submitted in July 2025.
“The evidence on record clearly implicates the defendants, and their no-case submission lacks merit,” Jacobs argued, pressing for the case to proceed.
A Case with a Chequered History
The trial has seen multiple judicial reassignments.
Initially handled by Justice Mohammed, the case was reassigned to Justice Okon Abang after Mohammed recused himself, citing a Sahara Reporters article alleging he had been compromised to favor Suswam. Suswam challenged Justice Abang’s jurisdiction, leading to a February 2020 Court of Appeal ruling that returned the case to Justice Mohammed. By 2023, Mohammed’s elevation to the Court of Appeal necessitated another reassignment, this time to Justice Lifu.
Upon reassignment, Suswam and Oklobia were re-arraigned before Justice Lifu, where they pleaded not guilty. Their lawyers successfully requested that the court maintain the bail conditions previously granted by Justice Mohammed. Justice Lifu, aware of the case’s complex history, cautioned all parties, stating, “I will not contribute to the chequered past of this matter. Let us proceed with fairness and diligence.”
NAN
