By Mike Ojo, Lagos
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 presented the Ninth and last Prosecution Witness, PW9, Ape Sunday against the former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan.
The Commission is prosecuting Suswan alongside his then Commissioner of Finance, Omodachi Okolobia on amended 11-count charge, bordering on diversion of public funds to the tune of N3.1 billion (Three Billion, One Hundred Million) being part of the proceeds from the sale of the state government’s shares, held on its behalf by Benue Investment and Property Company Limited.
During Wednesday proceedings, prosecuting counsel, A.O Atolagbe informed the court that the prosecution was presenting its ninth and the last of its witnesses, implying that it was closing its case with the testimony of the witness.
The closing of its case with PW9 followed the inability of the 10th Prosecution Witness, PW10, Mrs Shiedu Awade to testify in court due to ill health.
The Ninth Prosecution Witness, PW9, an investigator with the EFCC, while being led in evidence informed the court that PW10, a former cashier and executive officer of Benue Investment and property Ltd has been on admission in National Hospital, Abuja and that it was impossible for her to show up in court to testify due to the serious nature of her illness.
In response to prosecution’s final presentation of witnesses, counsels to the first and second defendants C.E Ugbozor and Paul Erokoro, SAN, respectively informed the court that they will be filing “a no case submission” and requested that the judge grants them 14 days period to so, while prosecution counsel on his part requested the court to grant him 21days to enable him file his response to the defence’s “no case submission.”
Justice Lifu adjourned the matter till June 24, 2025 for the adoption of the defence “no case submission.”
