Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, has a case to answer in the ongoing trial over alleged ₦3.1 billion fraud.
The court on Wednesday dismissed a no-case submission filed by Suswam and his co-defendant, Omodachi Okolobia, who served as Commissioner of Finance during his tenure. The duo is facing an 11-count amended charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly diverting ₦3.1 billion belonging to the Benue State Government.
The funds, according to the EFCC, were part of proceeds from the sale of Benue State’s shares held through the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited, and allegedly diverted via Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.
After the prosecution closed its case by calling nine witnesses and tendering several exhibits, the defence had filed a no-case submission, arguing that the evidence presented failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendants.
However, in a detailed ruling, Justice Lifu dismissed the submission, stating that the prosecution had indeed laid sufficient grounds requiring the defendants to respond.
“The determination of the court at this stage is not to address the credibility of witnesses,” the judge said. “What constitutes the court’s critical concerns is to determine whether or not there is a prima facie case. It is the court’s considered view that the defendants need to throw some light on some of the allegations, at least for the sake of fulfilling the principle of fair hearing.”
Justice Lifu added, “The defendants’ no-case submission is hereby refused and dismissed. The defendants are hereby called upon to enter their various defences.”
The matter was subsequently adjourned to September 22 and 26, 2025, for the commencement of the defence.
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