The trial of former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, over an alleged ₦3.1 billion fraud has entered its 12th year, with the court yet to hear the defence despite the prosecution having closed its case and secured a ruling that the defendants have a case to answer.
Suswam and his former Commissioner for Finance, Omodachi Oklobia, were first arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on November 4, 2015, over allegations of money laundering and the diversion of funds from the sale of Benue State Government shares in Dangote Cement Plc.
The anti-graft agency alleged that ₦3.1 billion realised from the transaction was diverted for personal use. The defendants have denied the allegations.
After years of legal battles, judicial reassignments and adjournments, the case appeared to move closer to a conclusion on July 23, 2025, when Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, dismissed a no-case submission filed by the defendants.
Naijaonpoint reports that the judge held that the EFCC had established a prima facie case and ordered the defendants to open their defence.
However, nearly a year later, defence proceedings have yet to commence.
The court had fixed September 25, 2025, for the defendants to begin presenting their case, but proceedings did not move forward. The matter was later adjourned to January 20, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses, before being rescheduled again to May 29, 2026.
The hearing scheduled for May could not proceed because the court was not in session, resulting in a fresh adjournment until July 17, 2026.
The case has witnessed several disruptions since it was filed more than a decade ago.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed, who initially handled the matter, withdrew in 2016 following reports questioning his impartiality, before later resuming proceedings. He stepped aside again in 2019 after another publication raised similar concerns.
The case was then reassigned to Justice Okon Abang, who heard part of the prosecution’s evidence. However, the Court of Appeal later ordered that the file be returned to Justice Mohammed following an appeal by Suswam.
Another delay followed in 2023 when Justice Mohammed was elevated to the Court of Appeal, forcing a fresh reassignment of the matter to Justice Lifu.
The EFCC eventually closed its case after calling nine witnesses, including investigators, finance ministry officials, stockbroking representatives and a bureau de change operator.
The prolonged proceedings have drawn attention because the case has remained pending for more than a decade after it began, despite the court’s finding that the defendants should enter their defence.
Suswam, who served as governor of Benue State from 2007 to 2015, has remained active in politics and is reportedly preparing for another electoral contest while the criminal proceedings continue.
The case is expected to come up again before Justice Lifu on July 17.
