DSS Refused to Produce a Former Governor of Benue State, Mr. Gabriel Suswam In Court

The Department of State Services on Tuesday refused to produce a former Governor of Benue State, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, before a Federal High Court in Abuja, for his ongoing trial on money laundering charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Suswam has been in the custody of the DSS over alleged ongoing criminal investigations since February 24, 2017.

Meanwhile,the EFCC had in the charges preferred against Suswam along with his then former Commissioner of Finance, Mr. Omodachi Oklobia, in 2015, accused the two men of committing money laundering offences involving alleged diversion of a total sum of N3,111,008,018.51 belonging to the state.

The sum of N3.1bn was allegedly stolen from the proceeds of the sale of shares owned by the Benue State Government while Suswam was the governor of the state.

Oklobia, the second defendant, was present with his lawyer, Mr. Audu Anuga, in court on Tuesday.

Hearing in the case before Justice Ahmed Mohammed was to resume on Tuesday, with the prosecution scheduled to continue leading its fourth prosecution witness in evidence.

But the counsel, Mr. Oluwaleke Atolagbe, who represented the lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacob (SAN), informed the court he could not account for Suswam’s absence.