A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ruled that former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, must face trial in the ₦3.1 billion fraud case filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Peter Lifu, in his ruling, held that the EFCC had established a prima facie case against Suswam and his former Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Omodachi Okolobia, sufficient to require them to open their defence.
The ruling followed a no-case submission filed by the defence, arguing that the prosecution failed to link the defendants to the alleged crimes. However, Justice Lifu dismissed the application, describing it as lacking merit.
“The no-case submission has no merit for now and is hereby dismissed,” the judge ruled, ordering both defendants to open their defence. The matter was adjourned to September 22 and 26 for continuation.
Suswam and Okolobia are facing an amended 11-count charge bordering on the alleged diversion of ₦3.1 billion — said to be proceeds from the sale of Benue State government shares held by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited, which were sold through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.
At the hearing of the no-case submission, Suswam’s counsel, Chenelu Ogbozor, and Okolobia’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN), urged the court to acquit their clients, citing insufficient evidence to link them to the alleged offences.
In response, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), opposed the motion, arguing that the prosecution had presented enough evidence to warrant a full trial. He urged the court to reject the defendants’ application, describing it as baseless and lacking merit — a submission the court ultimately upheld.