Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam must face trial over alleged N3.1 billion fraud charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court held that the prosecution successfully established a prima facie case against Suswam and his former Commissioner for Finance, Omodachi Okolobia, requiring them to open their defense.
Delivering a ruling on their no-case submission on Tuesday, Justice Lifu dismissed the application as lacking merit. He consequently directed the defendants to begin their defense on September 22 and 26, 2025.
Suswam and Okolobia are standing trial on an 11-count amended charge bordering on the alleged diversion of N3.1 billion. The funds were said to be part of the proceeds from the sale of Benue State government shares managed by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.
The defense counsels, Chenelu Ogbozor and Paul Erokoro, SAN, had argued that the EFCC failed to establish any link between the defendants and the alleged crimes. Citing Sections 302 and 303 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, they urged the court to discharge and acquit both men.
However, EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, opposed the application, insisting the no-case submission lacked substance and merit. He urged the court to compel the defendants to enter their defense.
Justice Lifu agreed with the prosecution and dismissed the application, clearing the way for full trial proceedings to continue.
