The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday adjourned the trial of former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, and his co-defendant, Omodachi Okolobia, until 20 January 2026 for the adoption of final written addresses.
Justice Peter Lifu made the adjournment after both defendants concluded their defence in the ongoing money laundering trial. The judge gave the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) 14 days to file and serve its final written address, and another 14 days for the defendants to respond.
Suswam and Okolobia, the former Commissioner for Finance in Benue, are facing an 11-count amended charge related to the alleged misappropriation of N3.1 billion, said to be proceeds from the sale of shares owned by the Benue State Government through the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited. The transactions were allegedly carried out via Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.
The EFCC had previously called nine witnesses before closing its case. The defendants initially filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had not established a prima facie case against them. However, on 23 July, Justice Lifu dismissed the submission, ruling that the evidence presented by the EFCC warranted a defence.
“Consequently, upon my conclusion on the above stated, the defendants’ no-case submission is hereby refused and dismissed. The defendants are hereby called upon to enter their various defences,” Justice Lifu said.
Suswam, who governed Benue from 2007 to 2015, and Okolobia had sought to terminate proceedings under Sections 302 and 303 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, claiming the EFCC failed to provide credible evidence linking them to the alleged offences. The prosecution countered that documentary and oral evidence established their involvement.
The EFCC originally charged the duo in 2015, alleging that they laundered approximately N3.1 billion using the two companies. In the amended charge, the commission also alleged that Okolobia transacted N578 million in four tranches, exceeding the cash transaction limits permitted under the money laundering law, between December 2014 and January 2015.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty and were released on bail, pending the determination of the case.
