Suswam’s N3.1bn Money Laundering Trial Reaches Final Stage After 11 Years

After more than a decade of legal battles, the alleged N3.1 billion money laundering case involving former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, and his former Commissioner for Finance, Omadachi Oklobia, is set for final written addresses.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed September 25, 2026, for counsel in the case to adopt their final written addresses. Justice Peter Lifu fixed the date after another adjournment stalled the earlier attempt to conclude the proceedings. ([Tribune Online][1])

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, accuses Suswam and Oklobia of laundering proceeds from the sale of Benue State Government shares in Dangote Cement Plc.

The shares belonged to the state government and were held through the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited. The EFCC alleged that the defendants diverted about N3.1 billion through Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited.

Suswam, who governed Benue from 2007 to 2015, and Oklobia face an amended 11-count charge. They have pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

The case began in November 2015 before Justice Ahmed Mohammed. It has since passed through several judicial stages and faced repeated delays.

The proceedings also changed hands after Justice Mohammed withdrew from the case on two occasions following publications that questioned his impartiality. The matter later went before Justice Okon Abang before reaching Justice Lifu.

The Court of Appeal subsequently directed that the case file return to Justice Mohammed after Suswam challenged the earlier reassignment. Justice Mohammed later moved to the Court of Appeal, prompting another reassignment.

Justice Lifu began hearing the matter afresh in March 2024 after the defendants faced the amended 11-count charge. The EFCC eventually called nine witnesses to establish its case.

One of the prosecution witnesses, bureau de change operator Abubakar Umar, gave evidence about the alleged movement of the funds.

Umar told the court that N3.1 billion entered his account in several tranches in 2014. He said he converted the money to dollars and delivered the equivalent of $15.8 million to Suswam at his Maitama residence.

The witness said the transactions involved a female proxy who transferred the funds to his account. He also told the court that the exchange rate at the time stood at N197 to a dollar.

Another prosecution witness, Mustapha Yusuf Abubakar, an EFCC investigator, tendered documents linked to the management of Benue State’s investments.

The evidence included a portfolio agreement involving Elixir Securities Limited and Elixir Investment Partners Limited. The agreement bore the signature of Oklobia, who served as the state’s Commissioner for Finance.

The prosecution also presented evidence concerning payments allegedly received by Oklobia. During cross-examination, the witness said Oklobia collected N350 million in two tranches.

According to the witness, Oklobia handed the money to the then Chief Security Officer to the governor, identified as “Manga”, at the Benue State Government House in Makurdi.

The defendants later filed no-case submissions, asking the court to discharge them without requiring them to present a defence.

However, in July 2025, Justice Lifu rejected the submissions. He ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case that required answers from the defendants.

“The defendants need to throw some light on some of the allegations made against them in the interest of justice and fair hearing,” Justice Lifu ruled.

The court consequently ordered both defendants to enter their defence.

Suswam later testified as the sole defence witness. He denied receiving money from Umar and rejected the allegation that he instructed the bureau de change operator to convert money on his behalf.

“My Lord, I know Abubakar Umar, but in this particular case, I had no transaction with him regarding the facts of this case,” Suswam told the court.

“At no time did I instruct him to collect the said amount, convert it and give it back to me as alleged in the charge.”

The former governor also denied misappropriating state funds during his eight years in office. He urged the court to discharge and acquit him, maintaining that his record in public service contained no wrongdoing.

Oklobia also denied the allegations and told the court that he acted on instructions from Suswam.

Both defendants eventually closed their defence, prompting Justice Lifu to fix January 20, 2026, for adoption of final written addresses. The court could not sit on that date because the judge was unavailable.

The matter later returned to court several times. In July 2026, the adoption of final addresses suffered another delay after Suswam and his counsel failed to appear.

His lawyer, Paul Erokoro, SAN, cited health reasons in a letter to the court. EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, opposed a further delay, stressing that the case had already lasted about 11 years. Justice Lifu nevertheless adjourned the matter to September 25.

The adoption of final written addresses represents the final major stage before judgment in the trial.

The case has attracted attention because of its long duration and the number of judicial changes it has undergone.

As the parties return to court on September 25, the prosecution and defence are expected to present their final arguments before Justice Lifu considers the evidence and submissions in determining the case.

The defendants remain entitled to the presumption of innocence until the court reaches its final decision.