The court orders of the former Governor Suswam to enter defense in the trial for alleged N3.1BN fraud

Judge Peter Lifu from the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, ordered the former Benue Governor, Gabriel Suswam, to enter his defense in the trial for alleged N3.1 billion fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) charged Suswam and former state finance commissioner, Omadachi Oklobia, on charges of 11-calculation amended from conspiracy, money laundering, and violations of criminal confidence in N3.1 billion.

The commission accuses that the funds are part of the results of the sale of the Benue state government shares managed by Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC).

He added that shares were sold through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.

This duo was first charged before judge Ahmed Mohammed in November 2015.

He then resigned from the case before being transferred to Judge Okon Abang to hear.

In the last trial, Suswam’s advisor, Chinedu Ogbozor, and Paul Erokoro (San), representing Oklobia, told the court that they had submitted a submission without a case on behalf of their clients.

They said the decision to submit a submission without a case came from section 302 and 303 from the administration of the Criminal Court Law (ACJA), 2015.

Also read: Senator APC Tribunal Sacks, Stating Former Winner of Gov Suswam from the North Benue Election

The lawyers urged the court to adopt their submission, which they supported with a written address.

In his response, EFCC’s main advisor, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), opposed the application and referred to his reply submitted in June.

He urged the court to dismiss the submission without a case, maintaining that the evidence of the record is sufficient to connect the defendants with the accusation.

Judge Lifu, when in power in submission without a case, stated that the prosecution had set the Prime Facie case against the two people who required them to survive.

The judge said he had been persuaded by the defendants to ask for sections 302 and 303 from the 2015 Criminal Court Administration (ACJA) to state that they did not have a case to be answered.

He said: “After reading the evidence before the court, I realized to argue that the defendants had an explanation to be offered for the interests of a just session.

“The prosecutor has been placed before a court which can be legally accepted by the two defendants with the accusation.

“They need to explain the accusations because the Prime Facie case has been determined to them.

“Submission without the defendant’s case was rejected and they were called to open their defense.”

The judge postponed the problem until September 22 and September 26 for the defendants to open their cases.