Join our WhatsApp channel HERE for the latest Benue news and updates!
The trial of former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, before Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, hit another roadblock on Monday, September 22, 2025. The proceedings were stalled due to the defendant’s inability to commence his defence, marking yet another delay in a case that has dragged on for over a decade.
Suswam, alongside his then Commissioner of Finance, Omodachi Oklobia, faces prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on amended 11-count charges. The allegations involve the diversion of N3.1 billion, purportedly proceeds from the sale of Benue State shares held on its behalf by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited. The funds are said to have been channeled through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.
The latest setback follows a ruling on July 23, 2025, when Justice Lifu dismissed a no-case submission made by Suswam, ordering him to begin his defence. However, during Monday’s session, Suswam’s counsel, J.B Daudu, SAN, requested a three-week adjournment, citing the hospitalization of co-counsel Chenelu Ogbozor and the filing of an appeal against the no-case ruling. Daudu urged the court to pause proceedings until the appeal’s determination.
Prosecution counsel, A.O. Atolagbe, opposed the request, arguing that the annual court recess had already provided the defence with over two months to prepare. “We have more than two months to prepare for the defence. In fact, this case has been up for 10 years, and they have had more than 10 years to prepare,” Atolagbe stated, urging the court to discountenance the defence’s plea.
Justice Lifu expressed frustration over the trial’s slow progress, noting it has lingered for more than a decade. He highlighted logistical challenges, including the difficulty in locating the case file, which he described as “scattered and littered all over the place,” causing his late arrival to court. “No matter what, a case should not go on for 10 years,” Lifu remarked, emphasizing the need for both parties to work towards a conclusion.
Despite the defence’s request, the judge adjourned the matter to October 10, 2025, giving Suswam a firm deadline to commence his defence. The protracted nature of the case continues to raise questions about judicial efficiency, with stakeholders awaiting the next hearing for further developments.
Stay tuned for updates as the trial progresses.
