The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has presented its ninth and final witness in the ongoing trial of former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, who is standing trial alongside his then Commissioner of Finance, Omodachi Okolobia, over alleged N3.1 billion fraud.
The duo are facing an amended 11-count charge bordering on the diversion of public funds, specifically part of the proceeds from the sale of Benue State government’s shares held by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, A.O. Atolagbe, informed the court that “the prosecution was presenting its ninth and the last of its witnesses,” signifying the formal close of the prosecution’s case.
The Commission had initially listed 10 witnesses, but the tenth prosecution witness, Mrs. Shiedu Awade, a former cashier and executive officer of Benue Investment and Property Company Ltd, was unable to testify due to health complications.
PW9, Ape Sunday, an investigator with the EFCC, told the court during his testimony that Mrs. Awade “has been on admission in National Hospital, Abuja and that it was impossible for her to show up in court to testify due to the serious nature of her illness.”
Following the testimony, defence counsel C.E. Ugbozor and Paul Erokoro, SAN, representing the first and second defendants respectively, announced their intention to file a “no case submission” and requested 14 days to do so. The prosecution also asked the court to grant 21 days for its response.
Presiding judge, Justice Lifu, adjourned the matter to June 24, 2025, for the adoption of the defence’s “no case submission.”
