Court Adjourns Suswam’s ₦3.1bn Fraud Trial to July 16 for Final Addresses
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, has adjourned the trial of former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, and his former Commissioner for Finance, Omadachi Okolobia, until July 16, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses.
The adjournment, granted on Wednesday, marks another milestone in the 11-year-old trial, which is now approaching its conclusion.
Suswam and Okolobia are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an amended 11-count charge bordering on alleged theft, criminal breach of trust, illegal award of contracts and money laundering involving N3.1 billion, said to be proceeds from the sale of Benue State government’s shares in Benue Cement Company
The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants carried out the transactions through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.
During the trial, the EFCC called nine witnesses in support of its case, while Suswam testified as the sole witness for the defence.
The defendants were first arraigned in November 2015 before Justice Ahmed Mohammed.
The case was subsequently handled by Justice Okon Abang before returning to Justice Mohammed following a Court of Appeal ruling. After Justice Mohammed’s elevation to the Court of Appeal in 2023, the matter was reassigned to Justice Peter Lifu for a fresh trial.
Following their re-arraignment before Justice Lifu, the defendant filed a no-case submission after the prosecution closed it’s case. However, on July 23, 2025, the court dismissed the application, ruling that the EFCC had established a prima facie case requiring the defendants to open their defence.
The defence commenced on October 10, 2025 with proceedings now set to move to the final written addresses on July 16, 2026.
