Alleged N3.1bn fraud: EFCC re-arraigns ex-Benue governor Suswam
- EFCC has re-arraigned the former governor of Benue state, Gabriel Suswam, over alleged N3.1bn fraud
- The former governor was said to have diverted N3.1 billion from the proceeds of the sale of shares owned by the Benue government since 2015
- Suswam, however, pleaded not guilty to the nine count charge leveled against him
Former governor of Benue state and senator representing Benue northeast senatorial district at the Senate, Gabriel Suswam, has been re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) on a nine-count charge bordering on money laundering at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Legit.ng reports that Suswam was re-arraigned on Monday, September 30, before Justice Okon Abang alongside Omadachi Oklobia who was the commissioner of finance in the state when he was the governor.
It was gathered that the two men pleaded not guilty to all charges and were granted bail based on terms earlier granted by Justice Ahmed Mohammed after they were arraigned before him in 2015.
Justice Abang asked the counsel in the matter to cooperate with the court warning that he would not entertain any frivolous applications for adjournment.
It would be recalled that Abang took over the trial of Suswam, following the withdrawal of Justice Mohammed from the case.
Mohammed had cited a publication by Sahara Reporters which accused him of having been compromised to give Suswam a soft landing as his reason to withdraw from the case.
Suswam had challenged the jurisdiction of the court presided over by Justice Abang to handle the matter.
His counsel, Chinelo Ugbozor, had argued on his behalf that the matter had already commenced in another court and four witnesses had been called.
The counsel to the EFCC, O.A Atolagbe, however, maintained that a judge could not be compelled to handle a matter.
Atolagbe reminded the court that since it was the second time Justice Mohammed was withdrawing from the case, he could not be compelled to hear it.
Suswam and Oklobia are being prosecuted on nine counts of money laundering bordering on the alleged diversion of N3.1 billion from the proceeds of the sale of shares owned by the Benue government since 2015.
The matter has been adjourned until October 29, 30 and 31. (NAN)
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the Kaduna zonal office of the EFCC on Wednesday, September 25, arraigned one Nuhu Ibrahim Shuaibu.
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It was reported that Shuaibu was arraigned before Justice P. Mallong of the Federal High Court, sitting in Kaduna on four-count charges that border on impersonation and fraud to the tune of N65,150,000.
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Source: Legit.ng
