Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, adjourned the trial of former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam until July 16, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses, as the 11-year-old case enters its final stage.
Suswam, alongside his former Commissioner for Finance, Omadachi Okolobia, is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an amended 11-count charge bordering on alleged theft, criminal breach of trust, illegal award of contracts, and money laundering involving ₦3.1 billion, being proceeds from the sale of the Benue State Government’s shares in Benue Cement Company.
The EFCC alleged that both defendants committed the offences through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.
While the prosecution called nine witnesses who testified against the defendants, Suswam was the sole witness for the defence.
The defendants were first arraigned in November 2015 before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja. The matter was later transferred to Justice Okon Abang of the same court before his elevation to the Court of Appeal. Following a ruling by the Court of Appeal, the case was returned to Justice Mohammed.
The prosecution was on the verge of closing its case in December 2023 when Justice Mohammed was elevated to the Court of Appeal, prompting the reassignment of the matter to Justice Lifu for a fresh trial.
Accordingly, the defendants’ re-arraignment before Justice Lifu on Friday, March 21, 2025, marked their second arraignment before him. Although both defendants filed a no-case submission after the prosecution closed its case with the testimonies of nine witnesses, Justice Lifu, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, dismissed the application, holding that the prosecution had established a prima facie case requiring the defendants to enter their defence.
The defence commenced on October 10, 2025.
