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Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday, July 1, adjourned the trial of former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam until July 16, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses, as the 11-year-old case enters its final stage.
Suswam, alongside his former Commissioner for Finance, Omadachi Okolobia, is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an amended 11-count charge bordering on theft, criminal breach of trust, illegal award of contracts and money laundering to the tune of N3.1 billion, being proceeds from the sale of the Benue State Government’s shares in the Benue Cement Company.
The defendants allegedly committed the fraud through Elixir Securities Ltd and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.
While the EFCC called nine witnesses who testified against the defendants, Suswam was the sole witness for the defence.
According to the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the defendants were first arraigned in November 2015 before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja.
He said the matter was subsequently transferred to Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, before his elevation to the Court of Appeal.
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“The case was later brought back to Justice Mohammed, following a ruling of the Court of Appeal.
“The prosecution was at the point of closing its case in December 2023, under Justice Mohammed, when the judge was elevated to the Court of Appeal, and the matter was reassigned to Justice Lifu for a fresh start of the trial.
“Thus, the defendants’ re-arraignment on Thursday, March 21, 2024, marked their second arraignment before Justice Lifu,” Oyewale said.
Although both defendants opted for a no-case submission after the testimonies of the nine prosecution witnesses, Justice Lifu, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, dismissed the application, ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case warranting Suswam and his co-defendant to enter their defence, he added.
They commenced their defence on October 10, 2025.
