Ex Gov has case to answer in EFCC’s N3.1b fraud charges, court rules

Keep up with the latest news and be part of our weekly giveaways and airtime sharing; follow our WhatsApp channel for more updates. Click to Follow us

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, must stand trial in relation to the N3.1 billion fraud charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Judge determined that the prosecution has presented sufficient preliminary evidence to justify a response from the former governor regarding the allegations.

Delivering his decision on the no-case submission filed by Suswam and his former Finance Commissioner, Omodachi Okolobia, Justice Lifu found the application lacking in merit and dismissed it.

He directed both defendants to proceed with presenting their defense and scheduled the continuation of the trial for September 22 and 26.

Suswam and Okolobia are being prosecuted on 11 amended counts for allegedly misappropriating N3.1 billion. The sum in question is said to be part of the revenue from the sale of shares owned by the Benue State Government through the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited, using Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.

During the hearing, defense lawyers Chenelu Ogbozor and Paul Erokoro, SAN, filed an application under Sections 302 and 303 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015. They requested that the court adopt their submission and discharge both defendants, arguing that the evidence presented does not sufficiently tie their clients to the alleged offenses.

Prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, opposed the request, urging the court to reject the defense’s application. He maintained that the no-case submission was baseless and unconvincing, insisting the matter should proceed to the defense stage.

For further information on sport secret and greatest sport icon click here

Please don’t forget to “Allow the notification” so you will be the first to get our gist when we publish it. 
Drop your comment in the section below, and don’t forget to share the post