Ex-Governor Suswam To Face Trial in N3.1bn Fraud Case, Court Rules

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, has a case to answer in the N3.1 billion fraud charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court held that the EFCC had successfully established a prima facie case against Suswam and his former Commissioner for Finance, Omodachi Okolobia, sufficient to warrant them entering a defence.

Delivering a ruling on the defendants’ no-case submission, Justice Lifu dismissed the application, describing it as lacking in merit. He subsequently directed the two defendants to open their defence and fixed September 22 and 26, 2025, for the continuation of trial.

Suswam and Okolobia are standing trial on an 11-count amended charge bordering on alleged diversion of N3.1 billion, said to be part of the proceeds from the sale of shares owned by the Benue State Government. The shares were held on behalf of the state by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited and sold through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.

At the no-case proceedings, Suswam’s counsel, Chenelu Ogbozor, and Okolobia’s counsel, Paul Erokoro, SAN, urged the court to discharge and acquit their clients, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish any link between them and the alleged offences. Their application was brought pursuant to Sections 302 and 303 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

However, EFCC lead counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, opposed the application, maintaining that the prosecution had provided sufficient evidence to warrant the defendants being called upon to present their defence.

Jacobs argued that the no-case submission lacked merit and urged the court to reject it.

Justice Lifu, in his ruling, sided with the prosecution and dismissed the defence’s application, clearing the way for the trial to proceed.