N3.1bn fraud: Court orders ex-Benue gov Suswam to face trial.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ruled that former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, must face trial over a N3.1 billion fraud allegation filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). 

Justice Peter Lifu ruled that a prima facie case has been established against Suswam and his co-defendant, a former Commissioner for Finance, Omodachi Okolobia.

Suswam and Okolobia are facing an 11-count amended charge for allegedly diverting N3.1 billion from proceeds of the sale of state government shares held by Benue Investment and Property Company Limited through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited. 

The EFCC presented witnesses, including a bureau de change operator who testified about converting N3.1 billion to $15.8 million for Suswam, and the defense argued on insufficient evidence but prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, countered that the no-case submission lacked merit.

Justice Lifu dismissed the no-case submission and directed Suswam and Okolobia to present their defense on September 22 and 26.

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