Court orders remand of former Benue governor over allegation N3.1b fraud
A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday ordered
the remand of former Benue Governor, Gabriel
Suswam in the EFCC custody pending perfection
of his bail conditions.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed ordered the
remand of Suswam and his ex-
Commissioner of Finance, Omodachi
Okolobia, while ruling on a bail
application, moved by Mr Ahmed Raji,
SAN, counsel to the defendants.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
reports that Suswam and Okolobia were
arraigned before the court on a nine-
count charge, bordering on criminal
breach of trust, conspiracy and money
laundering.
The two respondents pleaded not guilty
to the charges when read to them by the
court registrar.
Prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacob,
SAN, did not oppose the bail application
of the defendants on the ground that
they had been granted administrative
bail by the EFCC and had not jumped
bail.
Justice Mohammed held: “The
respondents are granted bail in the sum
of N100 million each and a surety each
in like sum.
“The surety must be a civil servant of
not less than the cadre of Director in the
federal, state or local government
service.
“In the alternative, the surety must have
a national honour and must swear to an
affidavit of means.
“The defendants shall submit their
international passport to the registrar of
the court.
“Failure to meet these requirements, the
defendants shall be remanded in the
EFCC custody pending the perfection of
their bail conditions.’’
Suswam and Okolobia were charged by
the EFCC for alleged diversion of a total
sum of N3.1 billion, realised from the
sale of shares owned by Benue State
Government and Benue Investments and
Property Ltd.
Justice Mohammed adjourned the case
till Dec. 8 for trial.
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