Alleged ₦3.1 Billion Fraud: Court Fixes Date For Final Addresses In Suswam’s Trial

The Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has adjourned the trial of former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, till July 16, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses.

Justice Peter Lifu fixed the date on Wednesday as the 11-year-old case entered its final stage.

Suswam is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside his former Commissioner for Finance, Omadachi Okolobia.

They are facing an amended 11-count charge bordering on alleged theft, criminal breach of trust, illegal award of contracts and money laundering involving ₦3.1bn.

The money was allegedly part of proceeds from the sale of Benue State Government’s shares in Benue Cement Company.

The EFCC alleged that the defendants committed the offences through Elixir Securities Ltd and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.

During the trial, the commission called nine witnesses to testify against the defendants.

Suswam was the only witness called by the defence.

The defendants had earlier filed a no-case submission after the prosecution closed its case, but Justice Lifu dismissed the application on July 23, 2025.

The judge held that the prosecution had established a prima facie case requiring Suswam and Okolobia to enter their defence.

They opened their defence on October 10, 2025.

Suswam and Okolobia were first arraigned in November 2015 before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The matter was later transferred to Justice Okon Abang before his elevation to the Court of Appeal.

It was subsequently returned to Justice Mohammed following a ruling of the Court of Appeal.

The prosecution was about to close its case in December 2023 when Justice Mohammed was elevated to the Court of Appeal, leading to the reassignment of the matter to Justice Lifu for a fresh trial.

The defendants were re-arraigned before Justice Lifu on March 21, 2022.