EFCC Presents Ninth And Final Witness Against Suswam In Alleged N3.1bn Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, presented its ninth and final prosecution witness, Ape Sunday, in the ongoing trial of former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam.

Suswam is being prosecuted alongside his former Commissioner for Finance, Omodachi Okolobia, on an amended 11-count charge bordering on the alleged diversion of N3.1 billion—funds purportedly generated from the sale of shares belonging to the Benue State government, held through the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited.

At the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, prosecuting counsel A.O. Atolagbe informed the court that with the testimony of PW9, the EFCC was closing its case. He noted that the Commission had been unable to present its intended tenth witness, Mrs. Shiedu Awade, due to health complications.

PW9, an EFCC investigator, told the court that Mrs. Awade, a former cashier and executive officer at Benue Investment and Property Company Ltd., has been hospitalized at the National Hospital, Abuja. Her medical condition was said to be too severe to allow her to testify.

In response, counsels for the first and second defendants, C.E. Ugbozor and Paul Erokoro, SAN, respectively, indicated their intention to file a “no case submission,” arguing that the prosecution had not established a prima facie case against their clients. They requested 14 days to file the motion, while the prosecution requested 21 days to respond.

Justice Lifu adjourned the matter to June 24, 2025, for the adoption of the defence’s “no case submission.”