Alleged N3.1b Fraud: Suswam’s Trial Stalled Over Failure To Begin Defence

The trial of former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, before Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja was on Monday, September 22, 2025, stalled due to the defendant’s inability to commence his defence.

Suswm, alongside his then Commissioner of Finance, Omodachi Okolobia, is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on amended 11-count charges for allegedly diverting N3.1 billion, being part of proceeds from the sale of the Benue State shares, held on its behalf by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited, through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.

Justice Lifu had on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, dismissed a no-case submission made by Suswam on the matter, ordering him to commence his defence.

Rather than commence his defence at Monday’s proceedings, Suswam, through his counsel, J.B Daudu, SAN, asked the court for three-week adjournment to enable him prepare for his defence.

According to him, one of his lawyers, Chenelu Ogbozor, is currently on hospital admission as well as the fact that he has filed an appeal against the ruling of the trial court in his no-case submission and urged the trial court to hold on until the determination of the appeal.

Prosecution counsel, A.O. Atolagbe, in his response, urged the court to discountenace the prayer of the defence, stating that the annual recess of the courts provided it with more than two months opportunity to prepare for the defence.

“We have more than two months to prepare for the defence. In fact, this case has been up for 10 years and they have more than 10 years to prepare for defence. We cannot wait for the Court of Appeal and ask that the trial court to wait. Except in a case where the Court of Appeal gives a date and gives a ruling, that is when this court can be bound by this. But this court cannot stall proceedings because of that application. We ask that the trial court discountenance this. My lord, it is unfair for them to ask for three weeks, the defence had more than three months during the break to prepare for their case,” he said.

Justice Lifu regretted the slow pace of the trial, noting that the trial has dragged for more than 10 years and urged both parties to work towards its conclusion.

“This morning when I came, I was searching for the file of this case and I couldn’t find it. In fact, until now, I have not set my eyes on the application of the Court of Appeal you are talking about. I had to send my people to go to the appeal registry of the court to look for the file only to see the case file scattered and littered all over the place. It was the reason why I came here late. We cannot go on like this, this case has been on for 10 years. No matter what, a case should not go on for 10 years,” Justics Lifu said.

He, thereafter, adjourned the matter till October 10, 2025, for Suswam to commence his defence.