Ex-Gov. Suswam’s fresh detention stalls his N3.1bn fraud trial
The confusion trailing the fresh detention of former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday stalled his trial and that of his former commissioner Omodachi Okolobia before Justice Ahmed Rahmat Mohammed of the Federal High Court Abuja.
Suswam who was rearrested following allegation that he collected huge sum of money from former Minister of Petroleum, Allison Deziani Madueke to execute the 2015 general election for the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, was to appear in court yesterday in continuation of trial over N3.1bn fraud.
But one of the lawyers in the defence team, Elizabeth Ogbozor told the court that Suswam was being subjected to incessant arrest and detention by various security agencies.
The lawyer further told the court that following the recent arrest and detention of the defendant , the leader defense counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), thought the defendant case would not go on in his absence so he scheduled himself for another matter at the court of Appeal in Abuja.
The counsel told Justice Mohammed that Daudu (SAN) was not aware that his client was granted administrative bail by EFCC on Wednesday night, adding that the hope of having the defendant before the court had been foreclosed because of the EFCC’s refusal to allow his bail earlier in the week
“We have been at a loss as to the direction of this trial because the defendant (Suswam) had been in the custody of EFCC in the past six days. It is a big surprise to us to see Suswam in court this morning because we are unaware of his release on Wednesday night”.
The counsel told the court that the lead counsel had therefore instructed her to apply for an adjournment of the
trial till November 23.
However, EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), admitted that Suswam was detained by his client but that the detention was based on another huge amount paid to the defendant by the former Minister of Petroleum, Allison Deziani Madueke to execute the 2015 general election for the Peoples Democratic Party PDP.
Jacobs told the court that, Suswam was released on administrative bail on Tuesday after making statements to the anti-graft agency and that he was only able to perfect the bail condition on Wednesday.
Rather than adjourning the case, the EFCC counsel pleaded for a stand down of the trial which the judge granted for four hours.
However, when the reality dawned on the court that Suswam’s lead counsel will not be able to make it to the court yesterday, the trial was put off till November 22.
Justice Mohammed however, warned that no one should cast aspersions or blame the court for the delay in the trial, adding that early in the year, Suswam was arrested by the Department of State Service (DSS) and was detained for close to six months on allegations of possessing guns unlawfully.
It would be recalled that Suswam and the Finance Commissioner under his administration Omodachi Okolobia are standing trial for allegedly defrauding Benue state government the sum of N3.1bn while in office.
They were on November 10, 2015 arraigned before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja on a 9-count charge bordering on allegations of financial impropriety and money laundering.
