The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the N3.1 billion money laundering trial of former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, and his former Commissioner for Finance, Omodachi Okolobia, to January 20, 2026.
Justice Peter Lifu fixed the date on Monday after the defendants closed their case, with Mr Suswam testifying as the sole witness for the defence. The judge directed the prosecution to file and serve its final address within 14 days, after which the defence will have another 14 days to respond.
Messrs Suswam and Okolobia are facing an 11-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the alleged diversion and laundering of N3.1 billion, said to be proceeds from the sale of Benue State government shares handled by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited. The EFCC alleges that between August 8 and October 30, 2014, the defendants used two companies—Elixir Securities Ltd and Elixir Investment Partners Ltd—to divert the funds.
In an amended charge, the EFCC also accused Mr Okolobia of conducting cash transactions totalling N578 million in four tranches between December 2014 and January 2015, allegedly in breach of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
The case, filed in 2015, has lingered for 10 years, slowed by repeated adjournments, re-arraignments and multiple transfers between judges. After the EFCC called nine witnesses, the defendants filed a no-case submission, which Justice Lifu dismissed on July 23, ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case requiring the defendants to enter their defence.
During subsequent proceedings, defence lawyer Joseph Daudu (SAN) requested further adjournments on grounds of a colleague’s illness and a pending appeal, but the prosecution opposed the request, saying the defence had had over a decade to prepare. Justice Lifu also lamented administrative challenges, noting difficulties in locating court files, which he described as sometimes “scattered all over the place.”
On Monday, after the defence closed its case, the judge scheduled January 20, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses, after which a judgment date is expected.